Idiomaticity and style

The course Idiomaticity and Style starts by introducing linguistic tools for the analysis of English registers (e.g. the principles described in the works of Douglas Biber). Since the focus is on increasing participants' idiomatic use of English, you will get to know various online resources (dictionaries, corpora and software) which can support you in developing your language skills. 

In the course of the semester, we will deal in depth with different types of text (such as recipes or text messages). You will analyse various texts on your own or in small groups and determine their situational context and linguistic features. 

We are going to collect the characteristic variables, which you will then use to actively produce your own texts. These texts, whose linguistic and stylistic appropriateness will be discussed in class, form the basis for the participants' individual portfolios on register. 

At the end of the course, you will have developed your competence to

You may also want to take a look at my English language links and the links and material for students, particularly the sections on academic writing.