Introductory description

How does miscommunication work? Are the rules of politeness universal? Why is it sometimes difficult to know what is appropriate in a different language? In this module you build on your earlier study of pragmatics by focusing on concepts related to intercultural pragmatics. You have the opportunity to analyse and reflect critically on pragmatic issues arising from language use in different intercultural and multilingual contexts. You will have the opportunity to work with real life data and increase your understanding of the affective power of language and issues of appropriateness in language use.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

• The emergence of pragmatics
• The Semantic/Pragmatic interface
• Cooperation and meaning-making
• Speech acts across languages and cultures
• Conversational routines and culture
• Communication style
• Politeness theories
• Pragmatics and rapport management
• Metapragmatics and interpersonal evaluation
• Pragmatics and intercultural competence

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to: Engage critically with current issues in Intercultural Pragmatics. Demonstrate profound understanding and skills in analysing how different social and cultural contexts affect the nature of language and meaning, and sensitivity to the affective power of language and appropriateness in language use. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the different approaches for the study of Intercultural Pragmatics. Design and carry out independent research in Pragmatics.

Indicative reading list

Agar, M. (1994). Language shock: Understanding the culture of conversation. New York: HarperCollins.
Bowe, H. & Martin, K. (2007). Communication across Cultures. Cambridge: CUP.
Duranti, A. (1997). Linguistic anthropology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Gass, S.M., & Neu, J. (1995). Speech acts across cultures. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.
Grundy, P. (2000). Doing Pragmatics. 2nd.edition. London: Edward Arnold.
House, J. & Kasper, G. (1981). ‘Politeness markers in English and German’. In Coulmas, F. (eds.) Conversational routine. The Hague: Mouton, 157-85.
Hua, Z. (2013). Exploring intercultural communication: Language in action. New York: Routledge.
Jackson, J. (2014). Introducing language and intercultural communication. New York: Routledge.
Jaworski, A. & Coupland, N. (1999). (eds.) The discourse reader. London: Routledge.
Kecskes, I. (2014). Intercultural pragmatics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Peccei, J. S. (1999). Pragmatics. London: Routledge.
Scollon, R. and Wong Scollon, S. (2001). Intercultural communication. 2nd. Edition. Oxford: Blackwell.
Spencer-Oatey, H. (2008). Culturally speaking: Culture, communication and politeness theory (2nd Edition). London: Bloomsbury.
Watts, R. (2003). Politeness. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Wierzbicka, A. (2006). English: Meaning and culture. New York: Oxford University Press.

Research element

The major assessment component for this module consists of a research project. For this, the students will develop their own research questions and identify a suitable methodology to address these. Throughout students will engage critically with empirical research articles and methodologies to prepare them for this task.

Interdisciplinary

This module draws mainly on the fields of pragmatics and intercultural communication, but also touches on social psychology and anthropology.

International

This module deals with cross- and intercultural research on communication. Students will engage with culture specific speech acts as well as with communication occurring in international settings. Students will be encouraged to draw on their own linguistics and social knowledge from both contexts and active learning and intercultural reflection amongst a highly international cohort of students are an important focus of the class.

Subject specific skills

Carry out analyses of cross-linguistic features and contexts, and authentic discourse, using both quantitative and qualitative methods;
Understand and explain key concepts, models and research findings in Pragmatics;
Demonstrate responsiveness to the central role of language in the creation of meaning and a sensitivity to the affective power of language;
Analyse research data on interpersonal pragmatics using relevant concepts and frameworks.

Transferable skills

Work effectively with others in group tasks;
Plan and manage time in projects;
Use a range of tools and resources effectively in the preparation of course work;
Critically reflect on meaning making in different professional and everyday contexts;
Critically evaluate key concepts, models and research findings associated with interpersonal pragmatics.