The Linguistics of Seeking Asylum
Mittwoch, 03.12.2025
This course examines the central role of language in asylum procedures, focusing on how linguistic practices shape the experiences of asylum seekers and the outcomes of their claims. Divided into two distinct parts, the seminar integrates theoretical and applied perspectives from sociolinguistics, forensic linguistics and discourse analysis. In the course’s first half, we explore interactional and discursive dimensions of the asylum process, with special attention to asylum interviews. We will engage with institutional discourse, and narrative pragmatics to uncover how language norms and expectations reproduce systemic bias. Topics include interactional asymmetries, politeness and trauma discourse, narrative coherence, and voice construction. In the second part, we shift to the use of language as evidence in asylum decisions — specifically focussing on Language Analysis for the Determination of Origin (LADO), where an asylum seeker’s speech is evaluated regarding the extent it reflects their claimed geographical and social background. We assess the scientific foundations of the practice by examining the various forensic phonetic approaches utilised, and also explore the practical and ethical challenges involved in judging language as a biomarker. This course has a Problem-Based Learning (PBL) format i.e., learning is driven by the process of solving complex, real-world problems; each week we will analyse case materials (interview transcripts, policy texts, LADO reports) and reflect on recurrent ideas in this applied field, such as a) the notion of credibility, and b) the linguist’s role. The course culminates in a final project where students creatively address a chosen problem from one of the two parts in an “unessay” format, such as a podcast, poster, or mock legal brief. Required Reading: All weekly reading will be uploaded to ILIAS before the term starts.
| Veranstaltungsart: | Vorlesung/Seminar |
|---|---|
| Dozierende(r): | Dr. Hannah Joy Black Hedegard |
| 03.12.2025: | 10:15 - 12:00 |
| Ort: |
Unitobler Lerchenweg 36 3012 Bern EG, F 006 |
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