SPN2290 - Spanish communication in a global world

Leader(s): Dr Marisa Cordella

Offered

Clayton First semester 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

The unit focuses on the study and understanding of the communicative rules or strategies that orient Spanish and Hispanic American speakers to communicate effectively in a variety of scenarios. Lectures explore the discursive similarities that link all Spanish speakers and make students aware of those which may differ as a result of varying social and political realities and historical factors.
Theoretical knowledge in pragmatics -language in use- and discourse analysis is explored to understand

1. the organization of a text in relation to the socio-cultural context
2. particular discursive features of Hispanic speech, which may influence deference, politeness, directness, and/or indirectness linguistic behaviours.

Objectives

By completion of the course, students are expected to have developed:

1. Awareness of the norms and value systems that modulate Spanish and Hispanic American discourse(s);
2. Knowledge of the predominant discursive features produced in business, among other discourses, in Spanish and English;
3. Knowledge of pragmatic features used in a variety of social interactions.

Assessment

2 Tests: 50%
Oral and written work: 50%

Contact hours

3 hours (1.5 hour lecture and 1.5 hour tute/seminar) per week

Prerequisites

SPN1040/2040 or SPN1060/2060 or SPN1080 or by permisssion

Prohibitions

SPN3290, SPN2070, SPN3070