Pragmatics and Communication

The course is structured in dialogical and frontal lectures, individual and group exercises, self-evaluative reflections concerning the several contents dealt with.

Module A — Introduction to linguistic pragmatics (2 ECTS)

Scope, theoretical principles and methodological approaches. The influence of context on interpretation and the influence of language on context (speech act theory: Austin and Searle). The Cooperation Principle (Grice). Conversation analysis.

Module B — Different theories on politeness (4 ECTS)

Normative (conduct books) and strategic theretical models: Brown & Levinson’s Face saving view; the Logic of Politeness (Lakoff) and the Politeness Principle (Leech). Pragmatic analysis of polite speech acts (compliments) and of polite conversation in Italian books of manners (galatei)

Module A — Introduction to linguistic pragmatics (2 ECTS)

Texts:

- C. Bianchi, Pragmatica del linguaggio, Bari, Laterza, 2003 (170 pp.)

- S. C. Levinson, La struttura della conversazione, in La pragmatica, Bologna, Il Mulino, 1993, pp. 357-453.

Module B — Different theories on politeness (4 ECTS)

- G. Alfonzetti, I complimenti nella conversazione, Milano, Editori Riuniti, 2009 (180 pp.).

- G. Alfonzetti, “Mi lasci dire”. La conversazione nei galatei, Roma, Bulzoni, 2017 (250 pp.).

The outlines of all lectures will be available on the platform STUDIUM

There will be a written in-progress  test  concerning the first part (module A), after the end of the lectures relating module A.

It will consist of open questions about topics dealt with in the first module.

Those who have taken and passed the in-progress test will have to answer questions on the module B book, orally, at the time of the final examination.

Those who have not taken the in-progress test must take the final examination for the entire syllabus orally.

For the assessment of the examination, account will be taken of the candidate's command of the content and skills acquired, linguistic accuracy and lexical propriety, as well as his or her ability to argue.

Use of the context in interepreting messages

Grice's Principle of Cooperation

Classification of illocutionary acts (Searle)

Definition of deixis

Performative ad constative acts (Austin); direct and indirects linguistic acts;

Locutionary, illocutionary and perlocutionary act;

Conventional and conversational implicatures; presuppositions.

Conversation analysis; System of turn-taking; opening and closing sequences; ; complementary sequences; pre.sequences; repair ststem;

Theoretical models of politeness: Lakoff, Beown and Levinson; Leech)

Definion of compliments; compliment repsonses; modulation in complimnet-response sequences;

Conversation in books og manners: mamagement of conversation;verbal and  non-verbal communication: selection od code; topics; listener's behaviour.