Monash University Handbook 2011 Undergraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Notes

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

ATS1194/ATS2194 or ATS1196/ATS2196 or SPN1080 or by permisssion

Prohibitions

ATS3209, ATS2197, ATS3197