Discourse and Pragmatics Flashcards
Paralinguistic Features
Non-verbal cues and features used during communication
Vocal effects
Laughter, whisper
Non verbal communication
Process of sending and recieving messages without using words
Code Switching
Using multiple different languages during speech
Cohesion
Refers to the way we use grammatical and lexical techniques to link words together to create meaning.
Synonymy
Using pairs or groups of words that are equivalent or similar in meaning
Antonymy
Relationship of words that are opposite in meaning
Hyponymy
Word that belongs to a larger category of terms. Can help writers avoid repetition. Increases cohesion.
Hypernym
Larger category of terms
Ellipsis
Omission of words or phrases, when they are known due to contextual info or because they have been referred to.
Repetition
Using the same word throughout a text to reiterate an idea or topic.
Substitution
Occurs when alternative words, phrases are used in place of the original.
Collocation
Words that typically appear next to or near each other in texts. Strengthen cohesion by letting audiences predict the next word. E.G. drink strong or weak tea?
Adverbials
Words, phrases that provide information
Conjunctions
Join words, phrases together to allow for addition, contrasts.
Information Flow
How speakers convey meaning by organizing and sequencing their language to effectively communicate.
Front Focus
Occurs when a speaker places new or important information at the front of the sentence.
Clefting
Refers to the modification of the syntax of a sentence to emphasize one particular element. “It is potato cakes that I like eating”
End focus
When speakers place new or important information at the end of a sentence or clause.
Anaphoric Reference
When a speaker refers to something previously mentioned in a conversation or discourse. Pronouns, determiners
Cataphoric Reference
When a speaker uses a pronoun to refer to something that will be mentioned later in the discourse.
Inference
Meaning that the audience makes when considering a text that contains information that is not overtly present.
Logical ordering
Occurs when we construct a text, as we arrange information in a way that will maximize understanding.
Openings
The initial phases of a discourse where participants establish contact and introduce the topic or purpose. Can create rapport
Closings
Occur in the final phase of discourse, where participants wrap up the interaction.
Adjacency pairs
Turns in a conversation where one speech act is followed by its expected response.
Minimal response
Brief replies that acknowledge or encourage another speaker, provide opinion, maintain conversational flow and indicate understanding, engagement.
Overlapping Speech
Situation where two or more participants speak at the same time. Can be cooperative or uncooperative.
Discourse particles
Do not carry semantic meaning, but play a role in organizing communication. “Well, you know, like, anyway”
Non-fluency features
Aspects of discourse that reduce its cohesion.
-Pauses, filled pauses / voice hesitations, false starts, repetition
and repairs.
Pauses
Brief intervals of silence during speech. Can indicate gathering thoughts, hesitation or a shift in topic.
False Starts
Begin an utterance but then interrupt themselves and start again.
Repetition
Unintentional restating of words, due to hesitations, self-correction or difficulty in finding the right words.
Repairs
Instances where speakers correct or revise their previous utterances.
Topic management
Methods speakers use to manage a topic within a conversation or monologue.
E.G. Initiation, Development, Shift, Change, Loop, Termination.
Turn-Taking
Methods by which speakers alternate turns when talking.
Code Switching
When a speakers switches between two or more languages in a single interaction or text.
Used to demonstrate group membership, shared background, or increase group bonds
Politeness Strategies
Speech acts that express concern for others and minimize threats to self-esteem
Positive Politeness and Examples
Strategies we use to create and maintain social harmony by demonstrating empathy and building rapport.
E.G. Emphasizing similarity, showing interest, using humor, offering compliments, using inclusive language
Negative Politeness
Focuses on reducing the imposition placed on the listener. Achieved by indirectness.
E.G. Hedging, being indirect and ambiguous, using low modality verbs, apologizing and applying other mitigating strategies.
Face
Used to describe the aspect of the listener that is being acknowledged through the use of politeness strategies.
Positive Face
The desire to be seen as competent and liked by others. It reflects an individual’s need for social recognition, appreciation and inclusion.
Negative Face
The desire to be free from imposition and constraints on autonomy.
Face-threatening acts
Communication that may pose a threat to an individual’s face. Leading to consequences such as embarrassment, offence or conflict.
Cohesion Features
lexical choice, ellipsis, repetition, substitution, collocation, adverbials, conjunctions, information flow and reference.
Lexical choice
Selecting words for the situational context
Coherence
Logical and meaningful organisation of a text. Arranging ideas, information and the elements of a text in such a way that the sentences, paragraphs and sections create a clear message with smooth transitions.
Coherence Features
Cohesion, inference, logical ordering, formatting and consistency and conventions
Consistency- coherence factor
When similar concepts or entities are referred to in the same way throughout the text, without unnecessary variations.
-Consistant formatting, as well as the use of consistant punctuation, capitalisation, font and spacing also contribute.
Conventions- coherence factor
Established rules and expectations for how certain types of texts are structured, organised and presented.
-Add to coherence
Features of spoken discourse
Openings, closings, adjacency pairs, minimal responses/backchannels, overlapping speech, discourse markers/particles and non-fluency features
Spoken discourse strategies
Topic management, turn-taking, management of repair sequences and code switching
Initiation (Topic management)
Introducing a new topic in a conversation
Development (Topic management)
The progression of a topic within a conversation. It involves expanding upon the initial discussion by providing more details, examples or explanations related to the topic.
Shift (Topic management)
Where the conversation moves from one topic to another, and there is a coherent link between the two
Change (Topic management)
The transition from one topic to a different topic during a conversation, it can occur naturally as participants move from one point to another or it can be a deliberate change to a different subject.
Loop (Topic management)
Revisiting or returning to a previously discussed topic in a conversation.
Termination (Topic management)
The closure of a topic within a conversation, occurring when participants reach a natural end point.
self initiated self repair
The speaker realises their own mistake and corrects it immediately without intervention from the listener.
self initiated other repair
The speaker notices their own mistake and invites the listener to correct it
Other initiated self repair
The listener indicates a problem and the speaker makes the correction. Builds rapport or face threatening.
Other initiated other repair
The listener indicates a problem and provides the correction. May cause offence if not appropriate in the context.
