Course Unit
|
Language and Communication |
Course ID
|
85324 |
Credits
|
6 |
Level
|
1st cycle |
Semester
|
S1 |
Instructor
|
Tjerk Hagemeijer |
Language of instruction
|
English |
Course description
|
Objectives: This course aims to (i) introduce the principles that regulate spoken and written verbal activity and the conditions of successful communication in real-life linguistic interaction, as well as (ii) to reflect on the specific properties of different types of communication. Competences to be acquired: (i) To identify the principles that underly verbal activity; (ii) To distinguish properties of spoken communication from those of written communication; (iii) To identify different types of inferential processes and to interpret implicit information; (iv) To recognize the importance of extralinguistic factors in the interpretation of utterances. Contents: 1. Communication and human language. 2. Spoken communication: (i) production and perception of the speech chain; (ii) situational and linguistic properties of informal speech. 3. Principles that regulate the use of language. 4. Illocutionary acts. 5. Inferential processes. 6. Written communication. |
Grading and Assessment
|
(i) Two written tests. (ii) Relevant participation in the classroom and in the assignments requested throughout the semester. |
Readings (selection)
|
Birner, B. J. 2013. Introduction to pragmatics. Chichester/Malden (MA): Wiley-Blackwell. Coulmas, F. 1989. The writing systems of the world. Oxford, Cambridge MA: Basil Blackwell. Fromkin, V., Rodman, R. & Hyams, N. 2011. An introduction to language, 9th ed. Wadsworth (international edition). Pridham, F. 2001. The language of conversation. London, New York: Routledge. Thomas, J. 1995. Meaning in interaction: an introduction to pragmatics. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited. |