New designs in university curriculum: teaching political linguistics

Abstract

The main idea of the article is to present a new experience for curriculum design in the higher education sector - political linguistics. The study of political discourse is a pragmatically orientated trend. The urgency of curriculum program is determined by the importance of political communication for modern society as a socially structuring, purposeful and typified activity. The scope of political linguistics taught within the Ural linguistic school includes studying national systems of political metaphors, processes and types of intertextuality, discourse strategies, political concepts, and genres viewed as subjects of cognitive science, which borders with discourse analysis. We suggest that they are the central mechanisms of political discourse formation, since they provide professional knowledge development. Studying political linguistics is essential for students as it helps them to better understand, analyze and produce political texts (e.g. when translating texts from one language into another). Further, it teaches them how to sense political processes in their country as well as how to decode hidden meanings and means of manipulating public conscience and opinion.