Seminar in Linguistic Theory Credit Hours: 3 Special topics and current issues in linguistic theory. For Fall 2023: This seminar will focus on the linguistic field of pragmatics, broadly defined as the study of meaning in context. In the course we will examine key theories, frameworks, and topics in pragmatics, including implicature (Gricean and neo/post-Gricean pragmatics), reference (deixis, anaphora), presupposition, and speech acts (additional topics can be incorporated in light of class members’ interests). The course also aims to provide a general overview of the kinds of questions studies in pragmatics attempt to answer, research methods used in pragmatics, and how the field relates to and complements other areas of linguistics (e.g., semantics, discourse analysis, sociolinguistics). Throughout the course we will apply key concepts to real-life examples of language use. Students will carry out research projects in which they examine language use (discourses) in their language(s) of specialization and native language(s). Additionally, we will read and critique seminal and recent studies focusing on English, the Romance languages, and other languages of interest to class members. Possible textbooks and general sources include: Birner (2013) Introduction to Pragmatics; Huang (2014) Pragmatics; Levinson (2000) Presumptive Meanings: Archer and Grundy (2011) The Pragmatics Reader. Level: Graduate
