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).

A. Introduction to linguistic pragmatics (2 CFU): scope, theorethical principles and methodological approaches. The influence of context on understanding and interpretation and the influence of language on context (speech act theory: Austin and Searle). The Cooperation Principle (Grice). Conversation analysis.

B. Different theories on politeness (4 CFU): normative (books of manners) and strategic (Brown & Levinson’s Face saving view and Politeness Principle (Lakoff and Leech). Pragmatic analysis of polite speech acts (compliments) and of polite conversation.

1. Introduction to pragmatics (2 CFU)

   Texts:

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

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

    

Verbal Politeness (4 CFU)

Texts:

- R. Lakoff, La logica della cortesia, in M. Sbisà (a cura di), Gli atti linguistici, 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 language usage, Cambridge University Press, 1987, pp. 55-227.

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

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

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