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PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANGUAGES
PBDS 605

NOTE: This is representative of the syllabi for this course. It is not necessarily the syllabus being used in any one semester.

Texts:

No textbook will be used for this course. However, students will be required to purchase a binder to hold sample documents and handouts.

Course Reguirements:

Weekly short writing assignments; final project

Course Description:

An examination of the "private" or specialized languages of various professions and institutions (e.g. science, medicine, I education, government, law) and the means by which these languages may be translated for the layperson. Each student will investigate at least one specialized language and will attempt to become expert in adapting or decoding private languages for public consumption.

Course Outline:

I. Language, Style, and Meaning (September 4-18)

Discussion Topics: Social properties of language

semantic environments, language as an information system, verbal and visual language, jargon and pseudojargon, building abstraction ladders, false elegance and euphemisms, trigger words, colloquialisms, and argot

Reading Assignments: Assorted handouts (see instructor)

II. Private Languages (September 25-0ctober 16)

Discussion Topics: Formal and informal diction

The psychology of word choice, syntactic structures in message design, language and form, special problems of government and legal writing

Writing Assignments: Analysis of specialized documents from business and government

Press releases, proposals, web pages, sales literature

III. Public Language (October 23-November 13)

Discussion Topics: Strategies for audience analysis Methods of information delivery Special problems of translation, communicative accuracy, readability formulas; Gunning's Fog Index

Project: Identification and survey of private language study

Field analysis of characteristic diction and syntax in private language study field

Analysis of characteristic methods of exposition and specialized forms in private language study field

IV. Applications (November 20-December 4)

Discussion Topic: Adapting to the Audience: Language Project: Comparison/contrast of two documents in private language study field

Discussion Topic: Adapting to the Audience: Form Project: Translation of document from private to public language

Final projects due December 11




			PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANGUAGES PBDS 605 NOTE: This is representative of the syllabi for this course. It is not necessarily the syllabus being used in any one semester. Texts: No textbook will be used for this course. However, students will be required to purchase a binder to hold sample documents and handouts. Course Reguirements: Weekly short writing assignments; final project Course Description: An examination of the "private" or specialized languages of various professions and institutions (e.g. science, medicine, I education, government, law) and the means by which these languages may be translated for the layperson. Each student will investigate at least one specialized language and will attempt to become expert in adapting or decoding private languages for public consumption. Course Outline: I. Language, Style, and Meaning (September 4-18) Discussion Topics: Social properties of language semantic environments, language as an information system, verbal and visual language, jargon and pseudojargon, building abstraction ladders, false elegance and euphemisms, trigger words, colloquialisms, and argot Reading Assignments: Assorted handouts (see instructor) II. Private Languages (September 25-0ctober 16) Discussion Topics: Formal and informal diction The psychology of word choice, syntactic structures in message design, language and form, special problems of government and legal writing Writing Assignments: Analysis of specialized documents from business and government Press releases, proposals, web pages, sales literature III. Public Language (October 23-November 13) Discussion Topics: Strategies for audience analysis Methods of information delivery Special problems of translation, communicative accuracy, readability formulas; Gunning's Fog Index Project: Identification and survey of private language study Field analysis of characteristic diction and syntax in private language study field Analysis of characteristic methods of exposition and specialized forms in private language study field IV. Applications (November 20-December 4) Discussion Topic: Adapting to the Audience: Language Project: Comparison/contrast of two documents in private language study field Discussion Topic: Adapting to the Audience: Form Project: Translation of document from private to public language Final projects due December 11 home \| bs, corporate communication \| ba, english \| ma, publications design \| mfa, integrated design \| mfa, creative writing & publishing arts \| people \| portfolio \| facilities \| classes \| undergraduate applications \| graduate applications \| contact \| site index \| university of baltimore