Project focus
The QuZuKoDiLi project aimed to combine queer linguistics and digital humanities in research and teaching. The courses taught (1) general digital and data competencies (data & digital literacy), (2) interdisciplinary methods (data collection, processing, management, analysis, and presentation), and (3) subject-specific content and methods (queer, discourse, and corpus linguistics). This was justified, on the one hand, by the fact that digital humanities and data & digital literacy have gained significant importance — making expanded knowledge all the more necessary for students (and teachers) of the humanities. On the other hand, queer linguistics is an equally (socially) relevant and new field of research that is generating great interest, especially among students.
Review and results
The project consisted of conducting a seminar with an associated tutorial in the Master’s program – each in the winter semester of 2024/2025 and the summer semester of 2025. By linking the seminar with the tutorial, it was possible to familiarize the students with the practical application of methods and the development of their own research questions based on previously taught theories. The intensive text work in the seminar, which was always combined with discussions on the challenges of empirical research, also gave the students increased opportunity to reflect on scientific methods. This promoted the critical handling of data and its processing in the research process, from which the students benefit throughout the rest of their studies. More so, were familiarized with a range of digital tools that they can use not only in the research projects within the QuZuKoDiLi program, but also for their further studies.
The diversity of methods in corpus and discourse linguistics was thus not only explored theoretically, but also directly tested by the students in practical application. The challenge of selecting the appropriate data basis and analysis method for the respective research question was always a key focus. Overall, the comprehensive theoretical exploration and reflection of the research process, as well as the practical handling of (digital) data and research methods, is a key outcome of the QuZuKoDiLi teaching project. The close integration of theory and practice has made an important contribution to promoting digital and data literacy.
Tips from lecturers for lecturers
The strong integration of theory and practice, which has proven highly beneficial, is also transferable to other humanities disciplines. The successful implementation of QuZuKoDiLi also demonstrates that a more intensive engagement with the technical aspects of data preparation and cleansing makes an important contribution to students’ ability to conduct their own research projects. These skills can and should also be promoted in other discipline-specific courses in the spirit of research-based learning within the Digital Humanities framework by placing a focus on the application of various analysis tools and the conduct of students’ own research projects.