Discourse Analysis: The Paradox of Discourse Markers

Teacher(s)

Degand Elisabeth;

Language

English
> French-friendly

Prerequisites

Introductory course to linguistics. 

Main themes

This course gives an overview of what discourse analysis is and covers the main methodological questions. It will treat discourse analysis from different points of view, in particular: linguistics (texture and cohesion), psycholinguistics (coherence, processing), sociolinguistics (conversation analysis, critical discourse analysis,).

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	Students will be able: - to develop global knowledge of the different domains covered by discourse analysis as a discipline - to apply the different theoretical concepts to concrete language situations - to acquire detailed knowledge of at least one domain of investigation of discourse analysis.

Content

This class focuses on the study of Discourse Markers as a linguistic category illustrating how their study can give us insight into the discourse level as a specific level of linguistic analysis. Each session will be dedicated to a particular empirical approach to discourse markers (L1 acquisition, L2 learning, translation, contrastive corpus analysis, processing, ...), illustrated by the selected articles. These readings will be complemented by in-class hands-on demonstration of relevant analyses.

Teaching methods

Research seminar
Students attend classes prepared, i.e. they have read the selected readings (submission of reading notes) and prepared questions to discuss. They present the (preliminary) results of a research project. If possible, a psycho-linguistic experimental design is set up with the whole group. Special attention will go to the students' ability to extract methdological questions from the papers under review.

Evaluation methods

The evaluation is performed through an individual written essay (80% of the grade) verifying the student's ability to resolve problems analogous to the ones presented in class. This project may take the form of a replication study. Active participation in class (oral presentation of research project, timely submission of reading notes etc.) is evaluated at 20% of the final grade (it is not possible to repass this part of the evaluation in August).
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) must be used responsibly and in accordance with the practices of academic and scientific integrity. Scientific integrity requires that sources be cited, and the use of AI must always be reported. The use of artificial intelligence for tasks where it is explicitly forbidden will be considered as cheating.

Online resources

Articles available on the Moodle website LCLIG2230
Instructions concerning the written and oral presentation of research reports in linguistics will be made available on Moodle and will be explicitly addressed in class.

Bibliography

cf. Moodle

Faculty or entity

ELAL