Checklist of American and British programs in stylistics and literary linguistics - Directory

Style, Spring, 2003 by Melina Bar

Stylistics and literary linguistics examine the use of linguistics and language study in the analysis of literary and non-literary texts and the effects of particular language on readers. Finding a university with a program specifically designed to facilitate the study of stylistics or literary linguistics can prove difficult, as relatively few American or British institutions offer degrees in these areas. The following list of graduate-level degree programs in America and Britain hopes to expedite such a search and to encourage prospective students to further their study in stylistics or literary linguistics. Any omissions are regretted.

In the United States

1. NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY Flagstaff, AZ, USA. Northern Arizona University's Department of English offers a PhD in applied linguistics with a number of specializations, including stylistics and corpus linguistics. The program allows a high degree of flexibility to give students the opportunity to pursue a diverse range of issues, supported by PhD seminars. For information contact Dr. Douglas Biber, Regents' Professor and PhD Advisor, Douglas.Biber@nau.edu, phone: 928-523-6156; Dr. Mary McGroarty, Mary.McGroarty@nau.edu, phone: 928-523-6073; or view program information online at http://www.nau.edu/~.english/ling/index.html.> 2. NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, DeKalb, IL, USA. Northern Illinois University offers an MA in Linguistics and Stylistics. The program presents a well-rounded course of study in general linguistics with emphasis on the use of corpora in stylistic analysis. Students with little former training in linguistics are welcome to apply. For information contact Dr. Donald E. Hardy, Dept. of English, dhardy@niu.edu, phone: 815-753-6692; or view program information online at http://www.engl.niu.edu/graduate/MAgeneral.html.> 3. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS, Denton, TX, USA. The University of North Texas offers a PhD in English with a focus in Poetics and Linguistic Analysis of Literature. The program is highly flexible and personalized, and coursework for the degree is roughly equivalent to that for a combined Master's Degree in Creative Writing, in Literature, and in Theoretical Linguistics" (Ross). Students with little training in linguistics and those with degrees not related to the study of English are welcome to apply. For information contact Dr. John "Haj" Ross, Poetics Program, haj@unt.edu, phone: 940-369-8946; or view program information online at http://www.engl.unt.edu/home.html.> In the United Kingdom

1. LANCASTER UNIVERSITY, Lancaster, UK. The Department of Linguistics and Modern English Language at Lancaster University offers an MA program in Stylistics. "Current research covers a wide range of text-types, including poetry, prose fiction, drama, the press and advertising," and new developments in corpus stylistics are explored "in relation to the study of metaphor and discourse presentation," readers' inferences from texts, "and the empirical study of literature" (http://www.ling.lancs.ac.uk/ma/masty.htm). The program consists of a combination of coursework and a dissertation and is flexible to allow a tailored course of study. For information contact the Department of Linguistics and M.E.L., linguistics@lancaster.ac.uk, phone: 44 (0)1524 593045, fax: 44 (0)1524 843085; or view program information online at http://www.ling.lancs.ac.uk/ma/masty.htm.> 2. UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM, Birmingham, UK. The Department of English at the University of Birmingham offers an MA in Literary Linguistics, full-time for one year or part-time for two years. The program requires both coursework and a final short dissertation. The degree is suited to students with a good background in English literature and English language interested in pursuing the interaction of these at an advanced level. Research interests of the teaching staff include narrative and narratological studies, critical discourse analysis, and grammar and corpus linguistics. For information contact. humanities-postgrad@bham.ac.uk; or view program information online at http://www.english.bham.ac.uk/PG/LiteraryLinguistics.htm.> 3. UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA, Norwich, UK. The School of Language, Linguistics, and Translation Studies at the University of East Anglia offers two MA programs involving the teaching of stylistics and literary linguistics. The first is an MA in Linguistics, Society, and Culture. The program is designed to explore linguistic variation, language and literature, and language and the media, and aims to offer students theoretical insights into the human language instinct as well as to provide for the development of technical skills in analyzing language, speech, and texts. For information on the MA program in Linguistics, Society, and Culture, contact the course organizer: Dr. Paul Chilton, p.a.chilton@uea.ac.uk. The second is an MA in Literary Translation, which emphasizes both practical and theoretical aspects of translation and focuses on stylistics and the effects of stylistic analysis on the translation of literary texts. For information on the MA program in Literary Translation, contact the course organizer: Dr. Jean Boase-Beier, j.boasebeier@uea.ac.uk; or view general program information online at http://www.llt.uea.ac.uk/ma_courses.>