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Topic 8 - Discourse Analysis

The document discusses discourse analysis, focusing on language features that extend beyond mere structure, including pragmatics and the interpretation of meaning in texts. It emphasizes the importance of cohesion and coherence in language, as well as the roles of speakers and listeners in conversational interactions. Additionally, it outlines Grice's Co-operative Principle, which includes maxims for effective communication, and introduces concepts of schema and script in understanding background knowledge.

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3 views11 pages

Topic 8 - Discourse Analysis

The document discusses discourse analysis, focusing on language features that extend beyond mere structure, including pragmatics and the interpretation of meaning in texts. It emphasizes the importance of cohesion and coherence in language, as well as the roles of speakers and listeners in conversational interactions. Additionally, it outlines Grice's Co-operative Principle, which includes maxims for effective communication, and introduces concepts of schema and script in understanding background knowledge.

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DISCOURSE

ANALYSIS
Discourse:

■ investigating features of
language that extend
beyond
DISCOURSE ANALYSIS

■ Further investigation from


pragmatics on the usage of
language.

■ Investigate reading of texts,


meaning of speakers, recognize
connected or jumbled discourse
Interpreting Discourse

■ As language users, we not only


recognize forms and structures
in a language, we are capable
recognizing fragments and can
make sense with the causal
relation between phrases.
■ E.g. Nice to see, nice to hold,
once broken, considered sold.
■ No Jackets, No entry.
■ Airbus crashes, 7 lost.
■ Bye-bye 2006, hello 2007.
■ My class is Bukit Bandaraya, 7
miles from my home, Klang
Lama. My parents name Fred
and Wilma. I having 2 sisters.
No brothers. I only son.
Cohesion

■ There should be a certain connection


within the text.
■ Should have certain cohesive links.
■ My great-grandfather bought this
land 50 years ago. It cost him 10,000
ringgit. Today, this place is worth a
fortune. However, my father donated
it to be turned into a hospital for the
poor.
Coherence

■ Does not exist in language but in


people.
■ Making sense of what humans read
or hear.
■ Meaning is interpreted from
experience.
■ E.g. A: Someone at the door.
B: I am changing.
A: Ok.
Speech Events

■ There is a variation in what


people say and do in different
circumstances.
■ Roles of speaker and hearer
have an influence on what is
said and how it is said.
Conversational Interaction

■ Conversation is where two or


more people take turns at
speaking.
■ Completion point occurs when
there is indication that the
talking is stopping.
Co-operative Principle

■ Paul Grice (1975)


■ 4 maxims to be obeyed:

1. quality: speaker tells the truth or provable by


adequate evidence
2. quantity: speaker is as informative as required
3. relation: response is relevant to topic of discussion
4. manner: speaker's avoids ambiguity or obscurity, is
direct and straightforward
Background Knowledge

■ Schema is when you can already


know when someone tells about a
place. E.g. an accident occurring at a
marketplace. You know how a
marketplace looks like.
■ Script – dynamic schema where a
series of conventional actions take
place. E.g. Going for
window-shopping.

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