Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

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

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Spanish and Latin American studies

Prerequisites

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

Prohibitions

SPN3290, SPN2070, SPN3070