gb - Englisches Seminar - Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Übungen
050 617 Bachem
Discourse Analysis and Literature, 3 CP
2 st. do 10-12 GABF 04/252 Nord
Discourse analysis is a hybrid field of linguistic enquiry, applying concepts and
models developed in various disciplines of the human and social sciences. It offers a
radical challenge to static conceptions of language (seen primarily as form rather
than function) and of text (as product rather than process). Both the production and
comprehension of (spoken and written) discourse are perceived in terms of forms of
social interaction and of meanings as step-by-step negotiations in specific contexts.
In class we shall examine a wide range of literary texts and explore genre-specific
structures set against their respective socio-historical backgrounds. Some of the
topics addressed include aspects of deixis, speech as action, modality, frames and
scripts, mind-style, metrical conventions and, of course, intertextuality. Various
discourse models are selected according to whether they are sufficiently productive
in our joint attempt at comprehending literature as discourse.
All students are required to give an oral presentation.
050 608 Becker
Pragmatics across Culture, 3 CP
2 st. di 12-14 GB 5/37 Nord
Pragmatics is about how people do things with words. But they do so differently in
different cultures: what is seen as polite and appropriate in one culture may be seen
as highly offensive in another cultural context. This course explores pragmatic issues
across cultures, as well as theoretical perspectives and methods.
Credits will be based on active participation in class, brief oral presentations, and an
individual in-class essay or term paper. Relevant texts will be made accessible via
Blackboard.
Selected References
Alcón Soler, Eva and Maria Pilar Safont Jordà, eds. 2007. Intercultural Language
Use and Language Learning. Dordrecht: Springer.