EKIA214 Pragmatics and Interactional Sociolinguistics (5 cr)

Content

This course will introduce key concepts in pragmatics – i.e. how people use language in interaction in order to communicate meaning and negotiate relationships. At the same time, we will explore the theme of social and cultural variation, discussing interactional norms within different communities and contexts.

Completion methods

Contact teaching: Classes will consist of lectures, in-class discussion tasks, and homework readings.

Assessment details

Assessment is based on students’ individual project work (observing interactional practices outside the classroom), leading to a final coursepaper.

After completing the course students will be able to:

• understand and analyse the role of context in communicating meaning
• recognise different kinds of meaning in language use
• understand important concepts in pragmatics and apply them to ‘real’ data
• analyse non-verbal and paralinguistic cues in interaction
• analyse how social identities and relationships are negotiated through language use
• understand variation between communities’ practices.

80% attendance requirement. The course is heavily discussion based.

Compulsory reading material will be provided during the course.