Course Description
Pragmatics
Jef Verschueren

Session 1: Introduction This introductory session sketches the positioning of the field of linguistic pragmatics (as the science of language use) in the linguistic landscape in general. Historical roots are explored and major trends are indicated. Session 2: Common topics in pragmatics A general review of common topics in pragmatics, including deixis, speech acts, implicit meaning (presupposition, implicature, and the like), and conversation. Session 3: Key notions It will be argued that the interdependence between the common topics (Session 2) necessitates an attempt to formulate a more coherent theoretical framework to capture relevant aspects of language use. Key notions for such a framework will be proposed (variability, negotiability, and adaptability), leading to the different angles from which pragmatic phenomena can and should be approached (dealt with in Sessions 4 through 7). Session 4: Context Detailed overview of ingredients of speech events (ranging from properties of utterer and interpreter to linguistic channel and linguistic context) that may function as relevant contextual parameters. Session 5: Structure Detailed overview of structural layers of language at which pragmatic processes can be seen to operate (from choices of language, code, and style to minute details of sound structure). Session 6: Dynamics Discussion of activity and event types, and sample analyses demonstrating the dynamics of interactive meaning generation. Session 7: The cognitive basis Inquiry into the role of perception and representation, planning, memory, degrees of salience, and metapragmatic awareness. Session 8: Pragmatic issues 1 Application of the pragmatic framework (outlined in Sessions 3 through 7) to a selection of specific linguistic problems (e.g. performativity) and to the pragmatics of small-scale interaction. Session 9: Pragmatic issues 2 Application of the pragmatic framework to wider societal issues such as intercuoltural and international communication, and discourse and ideology. The following textbook will be used in conjunction with supplementary readings: Verschueren, Jef. 1999.Understanding Pragmatics. (London: Edward Arnold) Please make sure you bring it to class. Students will be evaluated on the basis of (1) active participation in class, (2) a brief presentation of a task to be specified, and (3) a written review of an article assigned to them individually.