Syntax (2): Discourse and grammar

Spring 2005
Thur 2:00-5:00



Course objective:
This course is an introduction to the discourse basis of grammar and to functional/
interactional linguistics in general. An important assumption guiding research in functional linguistics is that grammar emerges out of response to interactional pressures. Particular attention will be paid to a close examination of a range of natural conversational data and the grammatical structure they illuminate.

Evaluation:
There will be a short paper due on Thursday on weeks 4,7,19,and 13. These papers
(50%) will provide you with an opportunity to discuss aspects of the course
material in your own terms. In addition, a final term paper is required (30%).
Class participation and contribution to class accounts for the balance of the grade
(20%)

Recommended readings
M. Selting and E. Couper-Kuhlen (Eds.). 2001. Studies in interactional linguistics. JB.
C. Ford, B. Fox and S. Thompson ( eds.). 2002. The language of turn and sequence. Oxford.
Course Outline

l. Overview: The study of discourse
D. Schiffrin, D. Tannen and H. Hamilton.2001. The Handbook of discourse analysis. Blackwell.[ seeks to embrace a ‘broad church mentality’ in the production of the volume and thus a weakness of the volume is that too few articles deal with the relationship between grammar and discourse]
J. Nichols. 1984. Functional theories of grammar. In Annual Review of Anthropology 13:97-117.
Fasold, R. 1990. The Sociolinguistics of Language, chapter 3
Van Dijk, Teun A. 2001. Critical discourse analysis. In Schiffrin et at. (eds.), pp. 352-371.
2. Intonation units
Divide preliminary transcript into units; IU boundary vs. clause boundary
Du Bois et al. 1993. Outline of discourse transcription. In J. A. Edwards and M. S. Lampert (eds) Talking Data: Transcription And Coding for Language Research.
Chafe, W. l994. Discourse, consciousness and time, chapt