This module introduces students to the various ways in which the term “discourse” is applied to the study of language.  Theories and methods that are covered include: Gricean pragmatics and speech act theory, pragmatic politeness theory, situated politeness theory, conversation analysis, ethnography of communication, interactional sociolinguistics, and critical discourse analysis.  Discourse builds on topics covered in year one and provides core theoretical content that is further developed in many year three modules.

Knowledge and Understanding:

• explain theoretical approaches to pragmatics and social interaction
• give examples of talk and text illustrative of the relevant frameworks
• summarise and paraphrase relevant literature on discourse, social interaction and pragmatics

Timetabled sessions include 2 lectures and 1 seminar per week. You will be required to prepare for seminars by carrying out set reading and occasionally collect some data to share with others. Lectures are usually supplemented with PowerPoint slides and handouts summarising content at a reasonable level of detail. These are usually made available on Learning Central before or immediately after the session. Audio and video are used in this module. Transcripts are provided where the audio or visual texts are analysed in detail or are a core element of the lecture or seminar.

Skills that will be practised and developed - Successful completion of this module will enable students to:

• compare competing and complementary theories about how language is used
• collect, transcribe and analyse audio and textual data in relation to relevant theoretical frameworks
• critically/ideologically interpret discourse in a range of contexts

The module is assessed by coursework (50%) and exam (50%).

The coursework involves a small research project or textual analysis and provides an opportunity to explore a topic in more depth. Your essay should demonstrate a good critical understanding of key issues, theories and concepts covered in weeks 1-5 of the module and should develop a clear and convincing argument presented according to the academic conventions outlined in the English Language Undergraduate Student Handbook.

The exam is split into two sections, the first is a short answer section in which several definitions of key terms and examples are required.  The second section requires the completion of one essay from a choice of three topics covered in the module. You will need to read widely in advance of the examination and produce answers which evidence this reading.  It is however essential that you also reflect on what you have read and use it to construct your own answers to the questions set.  These answers should show an ability to reflect on the topics required by the questions and to address pertinent issues critically and carefully.

The module is assessed according to the Assessment Criteria set out in the English Language Undergraduate Student Handbook. Otherwise, there are no academic or competence standards which limit the availability of adjustments or alternative assessments for students with disabilities.

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REASSESSMENT IN THIS MODULE:

In accordance with University regulations, students are allowed two attempts at retrieval of any failed essay, for a maximum module mark of 40%.  Resit assessments are held over the summer.

• Pragmatics: forms and functions of language in context; speech act theory, direct and indirect meaning; entailment, presupposition, inference and implicature.
• Politeness: theories of politeness and impoliteness.
• Social Interaction: ethnomethodology and conversation analysis; orderliness in discourse; rules and patterns of interaction in everyday and institutional settings; ethnography of communication.
• Communication Ritual: relational goals in talk, phatic communion.
• Critical Perspectives on Language as Social Practice: critical discourse analysis; language, ideology and the constitution of power and asymmetry; issues of knowledge, access and social control; quantitative (corpus) approaches to critical discourse analysis.

Gee, J.P. (2011) An Introduction to Discourse Analysis: Theory and method
Gee, J.P. and Handford, M. (eds) (2012) The Routledge Handbook of Discourse Analysis.  Abingdon: Routledge.
Grundy, P. (2008) Doing Pragmatics. London: Routledge.
Jaworski, A. and Coupland, N. (1999, 2006, 2014) The Discourse Reader. London: Routledge.
Paltridge, B. (2006) Discourse Analysis: An Introduction. London: Continuum.
Schiffrin, D. (1993) Approaches to Discourse.  Oxford: Blackwell
Sidnell, J. (2012) The Handbook of Conversation Analysis. Oxford: Blackwell
Thomas, J. (1995) Meaning in Interaction: An Introduction to Pragmatics. London: Longman.

Gee, J.P. (2011) An Introduction to Discourse Analysis: Theory and method
Gee, J.P. and Handford, M. (eds) (2012) The Routledge Handbook of Discourse Analysis.  Abingdon: Routledge.
Grundy, P. (2008) Doing Pragmatics. London: Routledge.
Jaworski, A. and Coupland, N. (1999, 2006, 2014) The Discourse Reader. London: Routledge.
Paltridge, B. (2006) Discourse Analysis: An Introduction. London: Continuum.
Schiffrin, D. (1993) Approaches to Discourse.  Oxford: Blackwell
Sidnell, J. (2012) The Handbook of Conversation Analysis. Oxford: Blackwell
Thomas, J. (1995) Meaning in Interaction: An Introduction to Pragmatics. London: Longman.