This course explores the language used by business organizations in their communications with a variety of audiences. It examines how companies use language strategically to achieve crucial business objectives, such as persuading potential customers to buy their products, winning the trust of investors, restoring their public image after a crisis, or striking a good deal with suppliers. Throughout the module, we will take a close look at a range of genres of business discourse, including advertisements, corporate social media texts, financial and sustainability reports, and corporate press releases. Students will be introduced to a variety of methods used to research business discourse and communication, including qualitative discourse analysis, corpus-based approaches, and experimental techniques. The module aims to provide students with comprehensive knowledge of the field of business discourse, and to help them develop valuable analytical, critical thinking, and communication skills that can be applied in a variety of professional contexts.
