German: Language, Media and AI

The course is a freestanding course and can be included in an advanced-level degree in German as the main field of study. It is offered within the Language and Intercultural Communication (SIK) program.

Admission to the course requires 90 hecs in German, of which 30 hecs must be at the intermediate level.

The course explores interactions in digital media and AI-based tools, with a particular focus on language users and how they are affected. A central question addressed in the course is: How does the concept of text evolve with technological advancements? Digital media and AI-based tools reshape the ways we create, distribute, and interpret texts, leading to a blurring of boundaries between traditional text formats and new, interactive forms. By applying various theoretical perspectives, these transformations are studied and analyzed in depth, including their possibilities and consequences for society. The course examines different types of texts using relevant methods for linguistic design and communicative function, as well as analyzing how digital media influence the role of text and its conceptual boundaries.

After completing the course, the student is expected to be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• explain the impact of digital media on the linguistic design of various forms of communication based on different theoretical perspectives.
• describe the significance of AI-generated texts for writing and communication, with a focus on German.

Competence and skills

• problematicize the concept of text in a digital context
• independently analyze text-typical and linguistic features in digital and AI-generated texts within a relevant theoretical framework
• independently formulate a relevant research question for the field and conduct a small-scale study based on it,

Judgement and approach

• orally and in writing, analyze, evaluate, and critically examine one's own and others' linguistic arguments and studies based on their scholarly and ethical possibilities, limitations, and consequences for society and for future research in the field,
• critically examine and evaluate the use of AI-based tools from an ethical and sustainability perspective.

The teaching consists of lectures and seminars.

The course can be offered as an on-campus course or an online course. In the online course, teaching takes place digitally via a learning platform and digital teaching tools.

Language of instruction: German

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

The course is graded as Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G), or Fail (U).

The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.

For the online version, access to a computer, webcam, and a stable broadband connection is required.

Aspects of equal treatment must be considered in content, literature, teaching, and evaluation.