Working with Spoken Discourse
This course introduces techniques and approaches for the analysis of spoken discourse in English. The focus will be on analyzing language events involving interaction between two or more speakers, with an emphasis on considering language in context.
The course begins with a general overview of the subject including practices and considerations for the collection and transcription of spoken discourse. We will then consider a number of approaches to discourse analysis; ethnography, speech functions, conversation analysis, sociolinguistics and critical discourse analysis. Students will learn how to design and conduct their own research projects. The main textbook, Analysing Casual Conversation, will be supplemented with lecture materials and some additional reading. Throughout the term we will work toward learning and applying a “toolkit” to collected texts.
Examples of both spoken and written discourse may be examined but the emphasis will be on spoken discourse. Students will be encouraged to collect and analyze their own data.
In general, the goals of the course will be:
- Developing skills in the analysis of naturally occurring spoken texts
- Developing skills in seeing pattern frequency and functional variety in spoken texts
- Designing and producing a research project involving the collection and analysis of spoken data.
There will be a number of short activities and assignments, a group presentation, a final paper representing 40% of the course grade and two short tests. Students will also present their proposed work for the final paper to the class.
The textbook for the course will be Analysing Casual Conversation, S. Eggins and D. Slade. Equinox Publishing, 2005.
Classes will be held in person on Mondays and Wednesdays, and online via Zoom on Fridays.