120081 PS Introductory Seminar (linguistics) (2008S)

This course will explore the nature of text and discourse, and will examine some of the ways in which language is used in interactive communication. With the help of a basic textbook and other materials, we will investigate some of the principles of discourse organization and structure in particular settings, as well as the relationships between language and its contexts of use. The nature of discourse meaning and communicative conventions will also be explored, together with the role of differing cultural expectations. Participants' own research projects will be based on further reading in more specialised areas and the analysis of samplesof text or interactive discourse.

Assessment: class participation; oral presentation; final research project (2,500 - 3,000 words)