ID:
501211
Duration (hours):
36
CFU:
6
SSD:
LINGUA E TRADUZIONE - LINGUA INGLESE
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Primo Semestre (22/09/2025 - 19/12/2025)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
Starting from an overview of the main topics in English linguistics, the course describes spoken English and the structure of English conversation. The course will engage with the pragmatic, sociolinguistic and cross-cultural dimensions of spoken English, with applications to the media. Special attention will be paid to linguistc politeness At the end of the course, students will be able to describe the main features of spoken Englisha and various types of face-to-face interactions off-screen and on-screen. They will have a good grasp of the methodological tools for data collection and analysis of spoken language.
Course Prerequisites
Students should have a competence in English corresponding to a B2+/C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Students are expected to have an excellent knowledge of the foundations of General Linguistics and a solid academic knowledge of the English grammar.
Students are expected to have an excellent knowledge of the foundations of General Linguistics and a solid academic knowledge of the English grammar.
Teaching Methods
The course comprises lectures and students' seminars. During lectures, the main contents of the course will be presented and students will be encouraged to take part in class discussion. Seminars will take place in the last week(s) of the course and will be presented by attending students (those attending at least about 70% of classes). Students will present analyses of interviews or television debates on a topical issue individually or in group .
Assessment Methods
Students will be assessed through an oral exam and on the seminar activity in the case of attending students.
In the oral exam students will be evaluated 1) on their knowledge of the contents of the course (50% of the total score) and 2) on their ability to communicate in English (20% of the total score); 3) for the attending students who have presented a seminar in the course, the class presentation and the related discussion during the oral exam will be worth 30% of the total exam. Non attending students will be assessed on the contents of the reading material (70% of the total score) and their ability to communicate in English (30% of the total score).
In the oral exam students will be evaluated 1) on their knowledge of the contents of the course (50% of the total score) and 2) on their ability to communicate in English (20% of the total score); 3) for the attending students who have presented a seminar in the course, the class presentation and the related discussion during the oral exam will be worth 30% of the total exam. Non attending students will be assessed on the contents of the reading material (70% of the total score) and their ability to communicate in English (30% of the total score).
Texts
Attending students
1. Miller, J. & Calude, A. 2021. Speaking and writing in English. In Aarts, B. et al. (eds) The Handbook of English Linguistics, 2nd edition, London/New York: Routledge, pp. 549-568.
2. Cora Garcia, A. 2013. An Introduction to Interaction: Understanding talk in formal and informal settings. London: Bloomsbury. Chapters 5,6,7,8,9,10, pp. 48-117; Chapter 23, pp.266-281.
[A new edition of An introduction to interaction, 2023, is now avalilable on Perlego]
3. Biber, D. et al. 2021. 2nd edition. Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English. Harlow: Longman. Chapter 14 - The grammar of conversation, pp. 1031-1120.
4. O' Keeffe, A. et al. 2020. Introducing Pragmatics in Use. Routledge. Chapter 5 - Politeness, pp. 98-123.
Non-attending students
1. Miller, J. & Calude, A. 2021. Speaking and writing in English. In Aarts, B. et al. (eds) The Handbook of English Linguistics, 2nd edition, London/New York: Routledge, pp. 549-568.
2. Cora Garcia, A. 2013. An Introduction to Interaction: Understanding talk in formal and informal settings. London: Bloomsbury. Chapters 5,6,7,8,9,10, pp. 48-117; Chapter 23, pp.266-281.
3.Biber, D. et al. 2021. Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English. Harlow: Longman. Chapter 14 - The grammar of conversation, pp. 1031-1120.
4. O' Keeffe, A. et al. 2020. Introducing Pragmatics in Use. Routledge. Chapter 5 - Politeness, pp. 98-123.
5. O' Keeffe, A. 2006. Investigating Media Discourse. London/New York: Routledge. Chapter 3 - Review of methodologies for analysing media discourse, pp. 32-55.
Additional support readings for non-attending/ working students
1. Thomas, J. 1995. Meaning in Interaction. An Introduction to Pragmatics. London: Longman. Chapter 6 - Sections 6.1-6.4.1., pp. 149-169.
2. O' Keeffe, A. et al. 2020. Introducing Pragmatics in Use. Routledge: Pragmatics and language variation, pp.145-172.
1. Miller, J. & Calude, A. 2021. Speaking and writing in English. In Aarts, B. et al. (eds) The Handbook of English Linguistics, 2nd edition, London/New York: Routledge, pp. 549-568.
2. Cora Garcia, A. 2013. An Introduction to Interaction: Understanding talk in formal and informal settings. London: Bloomsbury. Chapters 5,6,7,8,9,10, pp. 48-117; Chapter 23, pp.266-281.
[A new edition of An introduction to interaction, 2023, is now avalilable on Perlego]
3. Biber, D. et al. 2021. 2nd edition. Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English. Harlow: Longman. Chapter 14 - The grammar of conversation, pp. 1031-1120.
4. O' Keeffe, A. et al. 2020. Introducing Pragmatics in Use. Routledge. Chapter 5 - Politeness, pp. 98-123.
Non-attending students
1. Miller, J. & Calude, A. 2021. Speaking and writing in English. In Aarts, B. et al. (eds) The Handbook of English Linguistics, 2nd edition, London/New York: Routledge, pp. 549-568.
2. Cora Garcia, A. 2013. An Introduction to Interaction: Understanding talk in formal and informal settings. London: Bloomsbury. Chapters 5,6,7,8,9,10, pp. 48-117; Chapter 23, pp.266-281.
3.Biber, D. et al. 2021. Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English. Harlow: Longman. Chapter 14 - The grammar of conversation, pp. 1031-1120.
4. O' Keeffe, A. et al. 2020. Introducing Pragmatics in Use. Routledge. Chapter 5 - Politeness, pp. 98-123.
5. O' Keeffe, A. 2006. Investigating Media Discourse. London/New York: Routledge. Chapter 3 - Review of methodologies for analysing media discourse, pp. 32-55.
Additional support readings for non-attending/ working students
1. Thomas, J. 1995. Meaning in Interaction. An Introduction to Pragmatics. London: Longman. Chapter 6 - Sections 6.1-6.4.1., pp. 149-169.
2. O' Keeffe, A. et al. 2020. Introducing Pragmatics in Use. Routledge: Pragmatics and language variation, pp.145-172.
Contents
Spoken English, conversational analysis and the media
The course deals with the use and the structure of spoken English in its interactional dynamics and linguistic, pragmantic and functional characteristics which typify spontaneous, institutional and media talk. In this perspective, major devices employed in spontaneous conversation among English native speakers will be presented (e.g. turn taking, adjacency pairs) together with the main interpersonal devices and parameters that underlie spoken communication, among which linguistic politeness. Various syntactic, lexical, textual and pragmatic phenomena will be examined which are central to the structuring and construction of spoken English, among which deixis and personal pronouns, vocatives, conversational routines, repetitions, discourse markers and tag questions. Different genres of spoken language in spontaneous as well as media interactions - such as story-telling, emergency calls, radio and television interviews and talk shows - will be analysed to understand how English spoken discourse conveys interpersonal and social meanings.
The course deals with the use and the structure of spoken English in its interactional dynamics and linguistic, pragmantic and functional characteristics which typify spontaneous, institutional and media talk. In this perspective, major devices employed in spontaneous conversation among English native speakers will be presented (e.g. turn taking, adjacency pairs) together with the main interpersonal devices and parameters that underlie spoken communication, among which linguistic politeness. Various syntactic, lexical, textual and pragmatic phenomena will be examined which are central to the structuring and construction of spoken English, among which deixis and personal pronouns, vocatives, conversational routines, repetitions, discourse markers and tag questions. Different genres of spoken language in spontaneous as well as media interactions - such as story-telling, emergency calls, radio and television interviews and talk shows - will be analysed to understand how English spoken discourse conveys interpersonal and social meanings.
Course Language
English
More information
Besides the course ppt presentations, the following materials will be available on the Kiro platform: texts and hand-outs for linguistic analysis of spoken texts; additional articles for seminars and class discussions; useful additional texts and links.
Degrees
Degrees (4)
MODERN LANGUAGES AND CULTURES
Bachelor’s Degree
3 years
LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES FOR INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Master’s Degree
2 years
2 years
2 years
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