Module convenor: Raquel Navas
Module tutors: Raquel Navas, Professor Kirsty Hooper, Dr Esteban Catalán Muñoz, Dr Jorge Sarasola Herrera.

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. Writing across and between languages. In this section you will build on what you've learned in the first part of the course to discover how writers who live and work between languages use their work to explore questions of language and identity. With a focus on poetry and short-form writing, we'll look at how US and British Latinx writers have used literature to understand and shape their identities; how different writers have approached the challenges of writing in a language that isn't your own ('exophonic writing'); and how Spanish and English fit into the rich linguistic culture of the Philippines.

III. Football in Latin American Society and Culture. This course intends to explore the relationship between working class Latin American culture and football, from its role in national identity building, its ever evolving relationship with concepts such as gender, racism and nationalism, and the socio-cultural effects in the region of football’s conversion to one of the largest global entertainment industries. This section will explore the poetics and visuals of Latin American football by focusing on its representation in arts, with emphasis in literature, film, and digital media.

IV. 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.

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