Syllabus
1. Introduction - defining pragmatics, meaning
2. Context3. Deixis4. Speech acts (Austin, Searle)5. Conventional implicit meaning
6. Non-conventional implicit meaning (Grice)7. Conversational implicature vs. conventional implicature; hedging8. Non-observance of maxims, summary of indirectness9. Later approaches to implicature (Horn, Levinson), Relevance theory (Sperber & Wilson)10. Politeness theories (Brown & Levinson, Leech)11. Politeness strategies – positive politeness, negative politeness12. Final test (in class)
Annotation
This introductory course in linguistic pragmatics explores the central topics and theories that underlie the study of how language functions in context. Students will gain an understanding of key concepts such as deixis, speech acts, presupposition, entailment, the Cooperative Principle, maxims of conversation, implicatures, and politeness.
The course will also acquaint students with contemporary studies exploring topics within pragmatics.