LIN2570

Discourse analysis

Keith Allan and Joanne Winter

8 points
* 3 hours per week
* Second semester
* Clayton

Objectives Upon completion of this subject students should be able to demonstrate that language understanding is a constructive process using not only knowledge of the language but also inferences based on context, knowledge of the conventions of language use, and knowledge of discourse conventions for narrative, joke telling, conversation, etc. and encyclopedic knowledge of all kinds; recognise the contribution made by plans and scripts to the development of written texts and spoken dialogues; recognise and be able to describe the characteristics of turn taking in dialogue; recognise linguistic clues and cues to the introduction of individuals, topics, and themes within texts, to their maintenance, and how some are made more salient than others. Also, to recognise the ways in which topics and themes are concluded; apply Labov's theory for action narrative and also rhetorical structure theory; be aware of some of the similarities and differences in discourse conventions across cultures and how to identify them; confidently undertake the systematic linguistic analysis of a text or dialogue

Synopsis This subject examines various theoretical and methodological approaches to the analysis of discourses and texts. It aims to be a study of the analysis of written texts and conversation, paying particular attention to cohesive factors within texts and to stylistic and varietal differences in discourse structure. We shall investigate conversational structure; narrative structures in different languages; indicators of semantic cohesion; how topics are introduced and terminated; how they are recognised and maintained; the distribution of information in a text (given-ness, focus, etc.) the place of knowledge and context in language and understanding and the construction of texts (eg advertisements, newspaper reports, public policy etc.) in social contexts.

Assessment Written assignment (3000 words): 40%
* Research report (2000 words) 40%
* Class presentation (1000 words): 15%
* Class participation: 5%

Prescribed texts

Schriffin D Approaches to discourse Blackwell, 1994
A set of readings will be also made available from the Linguistics department.