AJ3203 Pragmatics

Faculty of Education
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Renata Povolná, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Renata Povolná, Ph.D.
Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Contact Person: Jana Popelková
Supplier department: Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Timetable of Seminar Groups
AJ3203/Kombi01: Fri 27. 9. 12:00–13:50 učebna 57, Fri 11. 10. 12:00–13:50 učebna 57, Fri 25. 10. 12:00–13:50 učebna 57, Fri 8. 11. 12:00–13:50 učebna 57, Fri 22. 11. 12:00–13:50 učebna 57, Fri 6. 12. 12:00–13:50 učebna 57, R. Povolná
AJ3203/Prez01: Tue 8:00–9:50 učebna 11, R. Povolná
Prerequisites
Pragmatics can be taken by any student of English, preferably after functional and communicative syntax, and must be taken by all students in all the study programmes for secondary schools.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 13 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course labelled Pragmatics enhances the acquisition of linguistic knowledge and teaching competencies indispensable for the professional development of future teachers of English, in particular communication and interpersonal skills, collaboration and teamwork, flexibility and adaptability (viz Strategic Aim 1, Strategies 2030). The aim is to introduce students into the study of pragmatics, i.e. a linguistic discipline which views the language from the point of view of its users. In this respect the course will be contrasted especially with students previous study of syntax and semantics. The course concentrates on the most important issues connected with the study of pragmatics with the aim to make students acquainted with the possibilities how to encorporate their knowledge of pragmatics into their future daily teaching profession.
Learning outcomes
The course will enhance students‘ awareness of the functions and aspects of English, thus developing their skills, such as analytic thinking, creativity in designing lessons and teaching materials, and adapting learning content for practical needs, which are qualities essential for teaching profession. The students are expected: 1. to be able to analyze authentic written as well as spoken text from the viewpoint of pragmatics, i.e. the users of the language; 2. to understand the differences in the ways of expression depending on contextual and sociocultural factors, e.g. between the ways of expression applied in public and private settings; 3. to be capable of distinguishing various language means on the scales of formality and informality, directness and indirectness, and politeness and impoliteness; 4. to be able to provide examples of concrete features appropriate and typical for various communicative situations and describe them while using linguistic terms from the area of pragmatics; 5. to be able to prepare concrete activities applicable in the teaching profession in which the knowledge and skills acquired in the sessions on pragmatics are used.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction to the study of pragmatics. 2. Deixis and distance. 3. Reference and inference. 4. Presupposition and entailment. 5. The cooperative principle and maxims. Implicature. 6. Conversational and conventional implicature. 7. Conversation analysis. Features typical of spoken interaction. types of conversational style. 8. Conversation and preference structure. 9. Speech acts and speech events. Performative hypothesis. 10. Direct and indirect speech acts. Speech act classification. 11. Politeness and interaction. Positive and negative politeness. 12. Discourse and culture. Discourse analysis.
Literature
    required literature
  • YULE, George. Pragmatics. First published. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996, xiv, 138. ISBN 0194372073. info
  • HIRSCHOVÁ, Milada. Pragmatika v češtině. Vydání druhé, v Karolinu. Praha: Univerzita Karlova v Praze, nakladatelství Karolinum, 2013, 335 stran. ISBN 9788024622330. info
  • YULE, George. The study of language. Seventh edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020, xii, 371. ISBN 9781108730709. info
    recommended literature
  • THOMAS, Jenny. Meaning in interaction : an introduction to pragmatics. Harlow: Longman, 1995, xii, 224. ISBN 0582291518. info
  • STENSTRÖM, Anna-Brita. An introduction to spoken interaction. 1st publ. London: Longman, 1994, ix, 238. ISBN 0582071305. info
  • BROWN, Gillian and George YULE. Discourse analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998, xii, 288. ISBN 0521284759. info
Teaching methods
Mode of teaching: seminar The methods used in classes are presentations of new and problematic issues by the teacher, who provides students with some necessary theoretical background. This is always suplemented by many examples. Then, after discussing the given topic with their teacher, students are asked to prepare and simulate authentic conversational situations in which they are supposed to use structures and/or strategies under discussion. As for homework, students are supposed to study in advance relevant chapters from their textbooks and handouts and be ready for class discussions. Apart from that, students have to do various interactive modules including quizzes designed particularly for their course.
Assessment methods
For the final exam, students must pass a written exam test which consists of three topics, different for every student, taken from the subject matter studied during the term, followed by a short discussion if necessary. Before the exam students have to pass successfully an on-line moodle test in the middle of the term. Moreover, all students are supposed to prepare a suggestion (e.g. in the form of a lesson plan) how to use pragmatics in their own teaching profession and try to apply their suggestion in a contact class.
Náhradní absolvování
It is possible to take this course online in case the student is abroad because all the study materials, course requirements, syllabus, literature, interactive practice tests, mid-term test, etc. are available online. The final exam/credit can also be taken online.
Language of instruction
English
Study support
https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/ped/podzim2024/AJ3203/index.qwarp
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: kombinované studium: výuka v blocích.
Teacher's information
https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/ped/podzim2023/AJ3203/index.qwarp
FOR ONLINE SEMESTER: Students are requested to secure good internet connection in order to participate in online lessons as indicated in the schedule. Students must attend these meetings with both the sound and camera on. AI Manifesto In the course, the use of AI is permitted for learning but not for cheating. It is acceptable to use AI for brainstorming ideas, basic proofreading, and suggestions for improvement. It is unacceptable to have a text generated, translated or reformulated. Remember to acknowledge all innovative ideas that are not yours. For generated ideas, use in-text citations. At the end of each assignment, state how you worked/did not work with AI. When in doubt, consult your teacher.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
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