Pragmatics in global contexts

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• identify, select and use a wide range of analytical frameworks
• access theoretical frameworks and approaches to data analysis and assess relative strengths and weaknesses
• monitor your own progress and evaluate your understanding of key concepts
• use of information technology where appropriate
• communicate about patterns of oral and written forms of interaction in a range of formats and registers, spoken and written, for a range of audiences

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• select and evaluate relevant academic publications and discuss them critically
• evaluate language teaching materials in terms of pragmatics
• reflectively reassess your individual experience in written and oral forms of interaction
• analyse forms of written and oral interaction from different contexts in relation to their pragmatic function;

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• major theories and concepts in the field of pragmatics
• different forms of analysis and methodologies in pragmatics
• relation between pragmatic conventions and culture in global context
• analysis and evaluation of pragmatics in language teaching course-books

This module will introduce students to pragmatics, an area in linguistics that focuses on language use and meaning rather than on the formal properties of the linguistic system (phonetics, morphology, semantics, and syntax). In addition to this, we explore practical applications of pragmatic theory and research to language teaching and learning. Pragmatic awareness is a core component of successful language learning, but it is often marginalized in language classrooms and textbooks.

Students will investigate how people do things with language, how they express politeness/impoliteness, how they negotiate ‘face’, how meaning is influenced by ‘framing’ and the use of metaphors, how arguments are made (and fallacious argumentation can be avoided), how meaning is created through language in conjunction with other multimodal resources (gestures, bodily movement, gaze etc.), how language use differs across social contexts (doctor-patient interaction, business communication) how pragmatic conventions relate to culture and what this means for teaching English as an international language. Because of the global orientation, this module will also be relevant to people interested in languages other than English.

Students will explore this subject from different theoretical angles (such as speech acts theory, politeness/impoliteness theory, argumentation theory, intercultural pragmatics) and analytical frameworks (for example, conversation analysis, metaphor analysis, multimodal analysis). Each session will also explore the implications of these theories, concepts, and forms of analysis for language teaching and learning.

Most sessions will include both lecture and seminar based on reading material which will be provided on Blackboard. The interactive and practical seminars will involve a variety of tasks and materials. Students will engage in discussion of pre-read articles and book chapters, group activities and exercises.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.