PRAGMATICS AND COMMUNICATION

To develop the reflection on: a) language as a semiotic system and as an instrument by means of which human beings act and interact; b) the relationship between language and context; c) principles
and structures of conversation;

To understand and analyze the main interactional strategies used by speakers to avoid conflict in interaction (verbal politeness)

The course is divided into two parts:

1) introduction to pragmatics: definition, object, aims

2) Politeness: different theoretical models

A. Introduction to linguistic pragmatics (2 CFU): scope, theorethical principles and methodological approaches.

The influence of context on understanding messages (ambiguity, deixis, metaphorical expressions)

The influence of language on context: performatives and constatives; speech act theory; classification of illocutionary acts in Austin and Searle).

Grice's Cooperation Principle and its maxims

Conversation analysis; structure of conversation; system of turn-taking.

B. Different theories on politeness (4 CFU): normative (books of manners) and strategic

theoretical models:

Brown & Levinson’s Face saving view; the Logic of Politeness (Lakoff); The politeness Principle (Leech).

Pragmatic analysis of polite speech acts: compliments

Principles of polite conversation according Italian books of manners

1. Introduction to pragmatics (2 CFU).

Texts:

- C. Bianchi, Pragmatica del linguaggio, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2003 (pp. 170).

- S. C. Levinson, La struttura della conversazione, in La pragmatica, Bologna, Il 
Mulino, 1993 (pp. 357-453).

B. Different theories on verbal politeness (4 CFU).

R. Lakoff, La logica della cortesia, in M. Sbisà (a cura di), Gli atti linguistici, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1978, pp. 220-230.

-G. Leech, A survey of the interpersonal rhetoric, in Principles of Pragmatics, Longman, 1983 (capitolo 6, pp. 131-151).

-Brown & Levinson, Politeness: some universals in languge usage, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1987 (pp. 55-227).

-G. Alfonzetti, I complimenti nella conversazione, Editori Riuniti, University Press, 2009 (pp. 180).

-G. Alfonzetti, “Mi lasci dire”. La conversazione nei galatei, Roma, Bulzoni, 2017 (pp. 250).

The outlines of all lectures will be found on the platform STUDIUM.

Please remember that in compliance with art 171 L22.04.1941, n. 633 and its amendments, it is illegal to copy entire books or journals, only 15% of their content can be copied.

For further information on sanctions and regulations concerning photocopying please refer to the regulations on copyright (Linee Guida sulla Gestione dei Diritti d’Autore) provided by AIDRO - Associazione Italiana per i Diritti di Riproduzione delle opere dell’ingegno (the Italian Association on Copyright).

All the books listed in the programs can be consulted in the Library.