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ENG833Arts3 Unitsintermediate

Pragmatics

This course provides an in-depth exploration of pragmatics for postgraduate English language students. It builds upon undergraduate knowledge, evaluating theoretical issues and the interaction between pragmatics and society. The course introduces new concepts and examines the relationship between pragmatics and other linguistic disciplines. Students will learn to apply pragmatic approaches to various societal contexts, particularly in multilingual and multicultural settings like Nigeria, and conduct research using pragmatic principles.

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52h
Study Time
13
Weeks
4h
Per Week
none
Math Level
Course Keywords
PragmaticsSpeech ActsImplicatureContextPoliteness

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📚
Math Level
No Math
🔬
Learning Type
Hands-on Practice

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Pragmatics

2

Speech Acts

3

Implicature

4

Context

5

Politeness

6

Reference

Total Topics6 topics

Requirements

Knowledge and skills recommended for success

Undergraduate degree in English Language or Linguistics

💡 Don't have all requirements? Don't worry! Many students successfully complete this course with basic preparation and dedication.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

tutor-marked assessments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

final examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Linguist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Communication Specialist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Discourse Analyst

Apply your skills in this growing field

Editor

Apply your skills in this growing field

Content Creator

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

EducationMediaLawPoliticsHealthcare

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: Understanding Pragmatics

4h

Unit 1: Pragmatics: An Introduction

4 study hours
  • •Read Unit 1: Define pragmatics, its history, development, approaches, and scope.
  • •Understand the Greek origin of the term 'pragma' and its focus on meaning in interaction.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1.
Week
2

Module 1: Understanding Pragmatics

4h

Unit 2: Pragmatics and other disciplines

4 study hours
  • •Read Unit 2: Identify relationships between pragmatics and semantics, discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, phonology, and nonverbal language.
  • •Focus on areas of convergence and divergence with other linguistic disciplines.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1.
Week
3

Module 1: Understanding Pragmatics

4h

Unit 3: Context

4 study hours
  • •Read Unit 3: Understand the concept of context, its linguistic, social-cultural, and psychological dimensions.
  • •Examine different types of contexts and theories of context.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1.
Week
4

Module 1: Understanding Pragmatics

4h

Unit 4: Research Methods in Pragmatics

4 study hours
  • •Read Unit 4: Learn about research methodologies in pragmatics, including data collection and analysis techniques.
  • •Understand the differences between authentic and elicited data.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1.
Week
5

Module 2: Major Concepts in Pragmatics

4h

Unit 1: Deixis and Reference

4 study hours
  • •Read Unit 1: Deixis and Reference: How language is used to refer to objects, people, and ideas.
  • •Understand the different types of deixis and referents.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1.
Week
6

Module 2: Major Concepts in Pragmatics

4h

Unit 2: Inference and Presupposition

4 study hours
  • •Read Unit 2: Inference and Presupposition: How hearers derive meaning from utterances and assumptions made by speakers.
  • •Understand deductive and abductive inferences.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1.
Week
7

Module 2: Major Concepts in Pragmatics

4h

Unit 3: Pragmatic Markers

4 study hours
  • •Read Unit 3: Pragmatic Markers: The role of words and phrases in organizing discourse and indicating speaker attitude.
  • •Study different types, features, and functions of pragmatic markers.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1.
Week
8

Module 2: Major Concepts in Pragmatics

4h

Unit 4: Politeness and Impoliteness

4 study hours
  • •Read Unit 4: Politeness and Impoliteness: How interpersonal relations are maintained or threatened through language.
  • •Understand Brown and Levinson's politeness strategies and criticisms.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1.
Week
9

Module 3: Major Theories in Pragmatics

4h

Unit 1: Speech Acts

4 study hours
  • •Read Unit 1: Speech Acts: The actions performed through utterances, including locutionary, illocutionary, and perlocutionary acts.
  • •Study Austin's and Searle's classifications of speech acts.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1.
Week
10

Module 3: Major Theories in Pragmatics

4h

Unit 2: Pragmatic Acts

4 study hours
  • •Read Unit 2: Pragmatic Acts: A socio-cultural interactional view of pragmatics, emphasizing the role of context.
  • •Understand the features of pragmatic acts and their differences from speech acts.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1.
Week
11

Module 3: Major Theories in Pragmatics

4h

Unit 3: Implicature

4 study hours
  • •Read Unit 3: Implicature: The theory of implied meaning, including conventional and conversational implicatures.
  • •Understand Grice's Cooperative Principle and conversational maxims.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1.
Week
12

Module 3: Major Theories in Pragmatics

4h

Unit 4: Relevance

4 study hours
  • •Read Unit 4: Relevance Theory: A cognitive pragmatic theory that reduces Gricean maxims to the principle of relevance.
  • •Understand cognitive and communicative principles.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1.
Week
13

Course Revision

4h

Final Revision

4 study hours
  • •Review all modules and units.
  • •Prepare for final examinations.
  • •Work on assignments.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

Read the complete course material as provided by NOUN.

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create concept maps linking key pragmatic theories (Speech Acts, Implicature, Relevance).

2

Practice analyzing real-world conversations and texts using different pragmatic frameworks.

3

Focus on understanding the nuances of context and its impact on meaning.

4

Review the different types of implicatures and their applications.

5

Study the various politeness strategies and their cultural variations.

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