Universität Wien

122051 PS PS Linguistics (BEd) (2025W)

Pragmatics

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 14.10. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Tuesday 21.10. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Tuesday 28.10. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Tuesday 04.11. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Tuesday 11.11. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Tuesday 18.11. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Tuesday 25.11. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Tuesday 02.12. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Tuesday 09.12. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Tuesday 16.12. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Tuesday 13.01. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Tuesday 20.01. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Tuesday 27.01. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The linguistic field of pragmatics investigates how language is used in social contexts and “how more gets communicated than is said” (Yule 1996: 3). Using the study of pragmatics as a point of entry, this course introduces students to one branch of linguistic research while also preparing them to carry out their first small-scale research project.

Throughout the term, students will become familiar with key concepts and theoretical frameworks in pragmatics, such as Speech Act Theory, Politeness Theory, Conversation Analysis, and the Cooperative Principle and will begin to develop the skills required to design and conduct linguistic research.

Some of the guiding questions we will explore include:
• What do people actually mean by what they say in a given context, and how can this differ from the literal meaning of their words?
• How do speakers use language to perform actions (such as apologizing, requesting, complimenting) and to negotiate understanding in interaction?
• How is meaning inferred by the addressee, and what role do shared knowledge, assumptions, and cultural norms play in this process?
• How do features of conversation, like turn-taking, interruptions, and repairs help people keep communication flowing smoothly?
• In what ways do politeness strategies and indirectness shape social interaction?
• How can we apply pragmatic theories to real-world contexts, such as intercultural communication?
• What types of data can be collected and analyzed in pragmatic research?

In addition to engaging with these central questions, participants will learn how to identify and evaluate relevant academic literature, critically assess existing research in the field, and gain hands-on experience in planning, conducting, and writing up a small-scale research project. By the end of the course, students will not only have acquired a deeper understanding of how language functions in social interaction, but will also have developed essential research skills that can be applied to broader areas of linguistic inquiry.

Assessment and permitted materials

Student assessment is based on active participation in class, online assignments, regular readings, an oral poster presentation and the PS paper.
For the paper each student will choose one aspect related to pragmatics, explore it in more detail, and conduct a study. Further information will be provided in class.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Regular attendance (max. 2 absences)
Part 1: Class participation, readings, smaller (online) assignments, discussions (f2f, online): 15%
Part 2: Poster presentation in class: 20%
Part 3: Paper proposal: 20%
Part 4: PS paper (3,500 words +/-10%): 45%

All parts (1, 2, 3 and 4) must be completed and at least three out of four parts must be positive. The overall pass mark is 60%

Grading scale: 1 (sehr gut) 100-90%; 2 (gut) 89-80%; 3 (befriedigend), 79-70%; 4 (genügend) 69-60%; 5 (nicht genügend) 59-0%.

Examination topics

Course evaluation is based on
• active participation, discussions/online activities, regular readings
• poster presentation
• on-time submission of paper proposals
• on-time submission of PS paper
Your paper will be checked with anti-plagiarism software (TurnItIn).

Reading list

Course readings: the main course book will be Cutting (2015; see below), but the course will also cover chapters from the other publications listed below as well as selected research papers (provided in class):

Cutting, J. (2015). Pragmatics: A resource book for students. London/New York: Routledge.
Dörnyei, Z. (2007). Research methods in Applied Linguistics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Litosseliti, L. (2010). Research methods in linguistics. Continuum.
Macaulay, M. (2006). Surviving linguistics: A guide for graduate students. Somerville, MA: Cascadilla Press.
O’Keeffe, A., Clancy, B., & Adolphs, S. (2020). Introducing pragmatics in use (Second edition.). London New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
Walkinshaw, I. (Ed.). (2023). Pragmatics in English as a Lingua Franca: Findings and developments. Developments in English as a Lingua Franca. Boston Berlin: de Gruyter Mouton.
Walkinshaw, I., & Kirkpatrick, A. (2014). Mutual face preservation among Asian speakers of English as a Lingua Franca. Journal of English as a Lingua Franca, 3(2), 269–291.
Yule, G. (1996). Pragmatics. Oxford introductions to language study (21. [impr.].). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Association in the course directory

Studium: BEd 046 / 407
Code/Modul: BEd 09.1
Lehrinhalt: 12-2045

Last modified: We 01.10.2025 12:46