Discourse & Pragmatics

This subject is not offered in 2016.

170 hours

Some prior study in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics of related disciplines is desirable.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject involves the study of language from pragmatic and discourse analytic perspectives. It will include topics such as: the collection and transcription of spoken language data, speech act theory, conversational implicature, deixis and perspective, conversation analysis and other approaches to discourse analysis such as interactional sociolinguistics, critical discourse analysis, and discourse and grammar. Students will learn how to design a small research project in discourse analysis and will have many opportunities to study samples of real-life language use from different perspectives.

On successful completion of this subject, students should:

• have an understanding of the main linguistic approaches to the study of Discourse and Pragmatics;
• be able to confidently deploy discipline specific research and analysis in Discourse and Pragmatics using primary and secondary sources and empirical data collected by students with a strong sense of research ethics and intellectual integrity;
• be able to draw on and critically evaluate theoretical approaches to the fields;
• be able to position themselves within theoretical perspectives in Discourse Analysis and Pragmatic theory;
• be able to proficiently employ learning and research technologies as well as field-specific technologies in transcription;
• have attained advanced abilities in written and verbal argumentation in Discourse and Pragmatics;
• have consolidated their understanding of social and cultural diversity in the university and wider community.

• Data collection and transcription (equivalent to 500 words) due throughout the semester [15%]
• Assignment in two parts (500 words each, total of 1000 words) due during the semester [25%]
• Final project (2500 words) due at the end of the semester [60%]

Hurdle requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 75% of tutorials in order to pass this subject. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.

Working with spoken discourse (D Cameron) SAGE publications, 2001

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Students who successfully complete this subject should:

• have developed research skills through collecting data and applying an analytic perspective;
• be able to integrate theory and data in a written account.