Skip to main content Skip to navigation

Language Text and Identity in the Hispanic World

Module Code: HP103
Module Name: Language, Text and Identity in the Hispanic World
Module Coordinator: Raquel Navas r.navas@warwick.ac.uk
Module Credits: 30
 

Module convenor: Raquel Navas
Module tutors: Raquel Navas, Dr Jorge Sarasola Herrera , Professor Fabienne Viala, Professor Kirsty Hooper

Module Description

How has the Spanish language travelled around the world and what happens when it coexists with other languages? How do writers exploit language to explore identity, and what happens when they work between two (or more!) languages? What skills do we need as readers to interpret the nuances of texts that travel between languages?

This module will equip you with an understanding of the cultural and sociolinguistic diversity of the Hispanic world, and a strong grounding in the literary and cultural analysis of texts that address this diversity.

- The module has four sections:

I. Spanish in the world: In this part of the course, we will explore the different varieties of Spanish spoken around the world, along with some of the principal languages that share its territory. The course intends to give theoretical foundations of sociolinguistics, always focusing on Spanish speaking groups and the study of language and society. General topics include linguistic identity, language contact, language attitudes, policy and planning, linguistic landscapes, and social factors in Spanish language acquisition.

II. Dancing Poets: Tango, Language, and Identity in River Plate Culture. Tango – as a musical genre, dance, and literary field – is a quintessential cultural practice from the River Plate region (Uruguay and Argentina). In line with the academic study of popular culture, we will conceive of tango as a rich locus of interest through which to explore societal developments in this region related to language, immigration, national identity, and gender. This section will focus mostly on the poetics and visuals of tango, by studying its representation in song lyrics, literature, and film.

III. Malinche: Language and Identity in the colonial Americas. In this section, we will focus on the historical figure of "La Malinche", also called Marina and Malintzin, who played a key role in the conquest of Mexico, facilitating translation into several indigenous languages to Hernán Cortés. We will analyse the ambivalence of Malinche in Mexican identity building and politics, and compare different narratives of Malinche, including her rehabilitating in Latin American scholarship by indigenous, feminist and gender studies.

IV. Writing across and between languages. In the final section you will explore cultural expressions of bilingualism and writing across and between languages, with a focus on the Cuban-American writer Gustavo Perez-Firmat's poetry collection Bilingual Blues.

image.jpg

 

The course is taught through a weekly combination of lecture and seminar. You will prepare for each seminar with guided research, reflection and close reading of a set text or extract. Each session combines tutor-led lecture with student-led analysis and discussion. Our focus is always on understanding the linguistic and literary structures and nuances that support advanced reading and interpretative competence in Spanish.

Read our students' posts about this module:

"Next, we moved on to what I would honestly describe as my favourite part of my studies this year: the usage of Spanish in our linguistic environment. Through the usage of a Twitter feed we were all encouraged to keep our eyes peeled for examples of Spanish in our environment. I thoroughly enjoyed this section of the module as it was interactive and provided a far deeper depth of understanding with regards to the languages of the Hispanic World and all that they entail."

"Overall, I am unable to put into words how much enjoyment I have derived from HP103; my outlook has been broadened, narrow precepts challenged and, moreover, every lecture and seminar has reaffirmed why I chose my course – it is engaging, interactive, captivating and enthralling."

Imogen, Hispanic Studies: so much more than rellena los huecos.Link opens in a new window

Assessment:

Assessment is designed to develop your advanced writing and analytical skills in English. Over the course of the year, you will prepare 2 independent pieces of work. You will have individual feedback meetings with your tutors to discuss each piece of work, and you will then revise them for submission as an assessed portfolio at the end of the year.

Formative assessment:

2 x 1500-word commentaries/essays in English to be submitted during the year that will be revised and submitted in summative portfolio.

Summative assessment:

2 x 2000-2500-word commentaries/essays in English (revised from formative work).

2023-2024 Terms 1 & 2
Lecture: Wednesday 9-10.
Seminars: Either Wednesdays 10-11 or Wednesdays 12-1
GROUPS WILL BE ALLOCATED IN WEEK 1