Sumários
Superinjunctions
20 Março 2017, 12:00 • David Alan Prescott
Reading of and explanation of texts from the anthology on the misuse of privacy "superinjunctions" by the English courts.
Headlinese, Journalese and The Language of TV News
15 Março 2017, 12:00 • David Alan Prescott
Analysis of texts from the anthology dealing with the style of headlines in (primarily) British newspapers as well as the vocabulary and expressions used on rolling news services. Explanation of how expressions such as "at the top of the hour", "the minister was doorstepped" (TV News) or "cops nab villains" (written media) are a sort of micro-language that is understood but hardly used by today's native users of the English language, making it a sort of code that is difficult to enter for foreign users of English.
Twibel
13 Março 2017, 12:00 • David Alan Prescott
Analysis and discussion of the recent court case for libel between Jack Monroe and Katie Hopkins over libel on Twitter. First legal recognition, in the UK High Court, of much of the terminology already known to many people who use Twitter on computers or apps on mobile devices.
Brief look at recent extraordinary publication of 26-point guide to the terminology of Twitter and tweeting by judge Mr Justice Warby in a guide called "How Twitter Works". This is intended for use by the UK judiciary who may not understand how Twitter functions, in order to help them decide in future "twibel" cases -- cases of libel published or republished on Twitter.
Document to be sent to students at end of this summary.
The Media and Intervention in Exposés
8 Março 2017, 12:00 • David Alan Prescott
Explanation of role of the UK (and US) media in exposing corruption among politicians and raising of question of how or if the media should be restricted in its role.
British Newspapers and Social Class
6 Março 2017, 12:00 • David Alan Prescott
Demonstration of how newspapers in the UK reinforce class differences through regular "feature" articles about such obvious matters as the "acceptable dress" for people of the so-called three social divisions, but also -- and more specifically of interest to this subject -- the acceptable vocabulary to use according to one's class.