Language, Identities and Institutions Research Group

This group brings together researchers who analyse the integral and dynamic role that language plays in the formation, function and preservation of identities and institutions across society. It is part of the Centre for Research in Literature, Linguistics and Culture.

Group members examine language in the construction and projection of individual and group identities across regional, social and digital space. They also critically evaluate language use by and within institutions, in legal, health(care), political, media, educational and cultural contexts. Drawing on approaches and perspectives from Systemic Functional Grammar, (Critical) Discourse Studies, sociolinguistics and corpus linguistics, the group explores issues such as: the language of the law and the legal process; discourses of healthcare advice; representation and ideology in the media; the impact that physical and mental illnesses have on speech and language; language and political power; vocabulary learning, language and identity in the East Midlands and language as heritage.

The group has members from across a range of disciplines within NTU, including linguistics, psychology, politics and international relations, global and sustainable development, computer science, criminology, youth and community studies, film and TV.

Together, members bring inter- and transdisciplinary approaches to the ways in which language and communication can address local, regional and global issues.

Collaborations and external partnerships

Group members have collaborated with colleagues and teams in universities across the UK and the world, including: Aston University, Birmingham City University, Bishop Grosseteste University, De Montfort University, Justus Liebig University Giessen, King's College London , Lancaster University, Lincoln Crown Court, Manchester Metropolitan University, Newman University , Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Northumbria University, Paderborn University , Queen Mary University London, Sheffield Hallam University , Universitat de Barcelona, University College Dublin, University of Cambridge, University of Cambridge, University of Duisburg-Essen , University of Leeds, University of Nottingham, University of Nottingham, University of Oxford, University of Oxford, University of Wolverhampton , University of York, University of York, Utrecht University

External partnerships include:

• Andrew Graves (writer)
• Angolan Women Voice Association
• Big Pit National Coal Museum
• Bilsthorpe Mining Museum
• Bochum Mining Museum (Germany)
• ChalleNGe Nottingham
• Chesterfield Museum
• Derby Theatre
• Derbyshire Record Office
• First Story East Midlands
• Hannah Sawtell (illustrator)
• ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites)
• Inspire Libraries
• Kidology Arts
• Laboratorio SQ-Lingüistas Forenses
• Lancashire Mining Museum
• Mansfield Museum
• Mine2Minds Education
• Museums Galleries Scotland
• Museums Northumberland
• National Coal Mining Museum for England
• National Mining Museum Scotland
• Nottingham Art Exchange
• Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature
• Pleasley Pit Trust
• QEDforensics
• Reflex Studios
• South Wales Miners Museum
• Visit Nottinghamshire
• Zeche Zollverein (Germany)

Improving Voice Identification Parades (IVIP)

Mapping the Changing Face of Cross-Examination

Slow Memory

‘At the breast is best?’ Challenging the marginalisation of breastmilk expression in infant feeding advice for improving health promotional materials

Accent Discrimination at the Bar

Corpus Approaches to Forensic Linguistics

Language and Museums - the importance of language as intangible heritage

Impact case study

Changing Attitudes to East Midlands English and Raising Awareness of Language as Heritage