Discourse Analysis Flashcards
Define Discourse
A stretch of oral/written language larger than a sentence; “language beyond the sentence”//may refer to both speaking and writing
Define Discourse analysis
The study of ways sentences combine to create meaning, coherence and achieve goals; what people using language are doing
Define Cohesion
The ties and connections that exist within a text (pronouns, connectives, etc); however it is not sufficient in enabling us to interpret a text, and cohesion does not necessarily produce coherence
Define Coherence
when a text is meaningful and makes sense
What is the Speech Act Theory
Speakers make sure of utterances to achieve a wide range of communicative functions, in which the result involves doing things
What is Locutionary act
the literal meaning the utterance carries
What is illocutionary act
the intended meaning of the utterance
What is perlocutionary act
the actual effect of the utterance
What are the five types of illocutionary acts
Declarations, representatives, directives, commissives, expressives
What are declarations
utterances that bring a change in the existing situation (e.g. I declare the meeting closed)
What are representatives
utterances reporting statements of fact verifiable as the true or false (e.g. claims, reports, assertions that convince people of what you are saying)
What are directives
utterances intended to get the hearer to do something
What are commissives
utterances committing one to do something in the future (e.g. promises, threats, refusals)
What are expressives
utterances expressing the speaker’s feelings and attitudes
What are speech acts
can be direct/indirect, explicit/implicit (usually related to face, and for yes no questions for indirectness with directives)
what is indirectness closely associated with?
politeness, usually displaying awareness and consideration of the “face” of others
What is politeness
a means of softening acts that is universally valued; centred around the notion of “face” and the efforts made to maintain each other’s face in interactions
What is positive face
the positive consistent self-image claimed by interactants; the need to be connected, admired, to be a member of the group
What is negative face
the basic claim to territories, personal preserves, the right to non-distract; the need to be independent and make free choices
What type of action are Face-Threatening Acts and which face do they threaten?
Positive: disagreements, disapproval, criticisms, refusal
Negative: direct orders, requests, warnings, threats
What are positive politeness strategies
complimenting or expressing solidarity with the hearer
What are negative politeness strategies
softening mechanisms such as apologies and hedges
What is off-record politeness
employs intentionally ambiguous expressions to minimise on FTA
The Co-operative Principle
say the right thing at the right time for the right purpose to the right person
What are the four maxims?
Maxim of Quantity, Maxim of Quality, Maxim of Relevance and Maxim of Manner
What is Maxim of Quantity
do not say too much or too little
What is Maxim of Quality
be truthful and do not lie. Also do not say assumptions that lack evidence
What is the Maxim of Relevance
Stay on topic
What is the Maxim of Manner
clarity of expression; avoid obscurity of expression, ambiguity and be brief and orderly
Flouting maxims
a speaker intentionally ignores/disobeys a maxim -> conversational implicature (main point: the maxims are conventions, not natural laws)
What is Conversational implicature
additional meaning that goes beyond the words that are spoken, and depends on both the linguistics meaning of the utterance and the circumstances in which the utterance was uttered
