This chapter aims at analyzing some of the transformations highly specialized languages (in particular that of mathematics) undergo when inserted in cultural products such as popular television shows, in order to explore how these audiovisual materials integrate these languages in mass products. In particular, the chapter focuses on the language of mathematics found in Mario Livio’s Is God a Mathematician? (2009), in order to investigate how the language of this author (already rather popular in its own right), is translated intersemiotically in the documentary The Story of Maths (2008) – presented by mathematician Marcus Du Sautoy. Furthermore, the chapter investigates the transformations to which the specialized language of science is subjected within the context of the popular television series Numb3rs, and The Big Bang Theory. These cultural products demonstrate the extent to which specialized discourses are being utilized by globalized cultural industries, which in turn has an implication for needs analyses and ESP course design.

Popularizing the language of mathematics / Canepari, Michela. - STAMPA. - (2018), pp. 21-38.

Popularizing the language of mathematics

Michela Canepari
2018-01-01

Abstract

This chapter aims at analyzing some of the transformations highly specialized languages (in particular that of mathematics) undergo when inserted in cultural products such as popular television shows, in order to explore how these audiovisual materials integrate these languages in mass products. In particular, the chapter focuses on the language of mathematics found in Mario Livio’s Is God a Mathematician? (2009), in order to investigate how the language of this author (already rather popular in its own right), is translated intersemiotically in the documentary The Story of Maths (2008) – presented by mathematician Marcus Du Sautoy. Furthermore, the chapter investigates the transformations to which the specialized language of science is subjected within the context of the popular television series Numb3rs, and The Big Bang Theory. These cultural products demonstrate the extent to which specialized discourses are being utilized by globalized cultural industries, which in turn has an implication for needs analyses and ESP course design.
2018
978-88-941718-5-3
Popularizing the language of mathematics / Canepari, Michela. - STAMPA. - (2018), pp. 21-38.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11381/2841436
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