Pragmatics in Discourse Analysis

This course offers an in-depth exploration of Pragmatics within Discourse Analysis, enriched by an interactive, AI-assisted learning environment. It begins with a thorough introduction to how pragmatics—exploring context-driven language use and meaning—plays a critical role across various social interactions and disciplines. The curriculum delves into the historical evolution of pragmatics and its foundational theories, such as Relevance Theory, Politeness Theory, and Speech Act Theory, along with pragmatic concepts like framing and schemata, all of which provide valuable insights into how language is constructed and interpreted within social contexts. Students engage with diverse methodological approaches, from qualitative and quantitative analysis to conversation analysis and ethnography, to understand the nuanced ways language influences and is influenced by societal structures. Applications of pragmatics are examined across fields like sociolinguistics, digital communication, and legal contexts, highlighting its relevance and versatility. The course addresses challenges in pragmatic discourse analysis, including dealing with implicit meanings and cultural diversity. It incorporates current trends such as digital communication’s impact on language use and the potential of AI in research, offering students a dynamic platform through the Discourse Analyzer AI where they can actively interact with content, pose questions, and receive personalized explanations, thus deeply engaging with the complex interplay of language and society.