Language, Communication and Cognition

The relationship between language, communication and cognition is central to many of the disciplines in the humanities as well as the social and cognitive sciences, including studies relating to language, culture, media and mind. The MA in Language, Communication and Cognition is aimed at those students who wish to undertake a taught programme of graduate-level study in the interdisciplinary area of language and mind which is not limited to a specific theoretical perspective. The MA provides a comprehensive programme of graduate-level training in various topics associated with the study of language, culture, communication and cognition, approached from the perspective of theories in cognitive linguistics, as well as cultural and communication studies.

Topics covered will include linguistic meaning and structure, cognitive linguistics, embodied cognition, linguistic relativity, the nature of spatial and temporal representation, the socio-cultural nature and basis of language and communication, cross-cultural and cross-linguistic diversity especially in communication practices, data collection techniques including the collection of qualitative data and experimental design, how the mind and brain process language, and linguistic anthropology. Students will have ample opportunity to conduct their own research, both in course projects and in the final dissertation. The MA also provides a platform for those interested in pursuing an advanced research degree.

The MA in Language, Communication and Cognition involves 4 compulsory modules plus 2 options plus a research dissertation of 20,000 words maximum.

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time