What is Text Week 1

7/31/2019 What is Text Week 1

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Welcome toWelcome to

Analysing Language in UseAnalysing Language in Use(LING 204)(LING 204)

LING 204, Week 1LING 204, Week 1

Veronika Koller, LAELVeronika Koller, LAEL


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Who I amWho I am

Veronika Koller, Lecturer in English LanguageVeronika Koller, Lecturer in English Language

and how you can contact me:and how you can contact me:

Office hours: Monday 2-3 p.m., Tuesday 10-11Office hours: Monday 2-3 p.m., Tuesday 10-11

a.m., B87b (Bowland)a.m., B87b (Bowland)

Phone: (01524) 594642Phone: (01524) 594642

Email: [email protected]: [email protected]

Current (main) project on marketing discourse, brands andCurrent (main) project on marketing discourse, brands and

consumer identityconsumer identity

Convene and lecture on LING 204Convene and lecture on LING 204


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Other people on this courseOther people on this course

Paul Chilton, Professor in English LanguagePaul Chilton, Professor in English Language

Please address all administrative queries to me or UGPlease address all administrative queries to me or UG

secretary Vicki Bell!secretary Vicki Bell!

lectures on LING 204 (latter half of term 1, first half oflectures on LING 204 (latter half of term 1, first half of

term 2)term 2)

Majid Khosravinik, PhD student, research assistant andMajid Khosravinik, PhD student, research assistant andpart-time tutorpart-time tutor

teaches seminars on LING 204teaches seminars on LING 204

Johnny Unger, PhD student and part-time tutorJohnny Unger, PhD student and part-time tutor

teaches seminars on LING 204teaches seminars on LING 204


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How this course works:How this course works:

18 units spread over two terms18 units spread over two terms

weekly lectures (except reading week 6) and two reviewweekly lectures (except reading week 6) and two review

sessions (week 10)sessions (week 10)

six seminars a term (term 1: weeks 2-4, 7-9; term 2:six seminars a term (term 1: weeks 2-4, 7-9; term 2:weeks 2-8)weeks 2-8)

course material available atcourse material available at

http://domino.lancs.ac.uk/linguistics/ling204.nsfhttp://domino.lancs.ac.uk/linguistics/ling204.nsf

two coursework assessments (40%) and one exam (60%)two coursework assessments (40%) and one exam (60%)

oror a dissertation (100%)a dissertation (100%)

four seminar groups a week: Wed 10-11, 11-12, 12-1, 1-four seminar groups a week: Wed 10-11, 11-12, 12-1, 1-

2 (all B87a)2 (all B87a)


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What you need to do:What you need to do:

prepare reading required for each lectureprepare reading required for each lecture

hand in two written assignments (text analysis) and sithand in two written assignments (text analysis) and sit

examexam oror write dissertationwrite dissertation

study exercises for seminarsstudy exercises for seminars

ask if anything is unclearask if anything is unclear

keep an open mindkeep an open mind

download material in advance of lecturedownload material in advance of lecture


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in Usein Use

LanguageLanguage

AnalysingAnalysing

performanceperformancevs competencevs competence

context-context-

dependentdependent

empiricalempirical

datadata

naturalnatural

languagelanguage

focus onfocus on

verbalverbal

languagelanguage

role in socialrole in social

practices andpractices and

social changesocial change

relate text torelate text to

contextcontext

investigatinginvestigating

particularparticularparametersparameters


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What is a text?What is a text?

an instance of language usean instance of language use

verbal or non-verbal (e.g. sign language)verbal or non-verbal (e.g. sign language)

written or spoken (e.g. newspaper article, interview)written or spoken (e.g. newspaper article, interview)

coherent as a unitcoherent as a unit

of different length (novel vs parking sign)of different length (novel vs parking sign)

pointing to something beyond itselfpointing to something beyond itself

linguistics vs semioticslinguistics vs semiotics


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Q: Why do texts matter?Q: Why do texts matter?

A: Because issues matter! And issuesA: Because issues matter! And issues

involve texts.involve texts.

EU constitutionEU constitution document, TV debate, referendumdocument, TV debate, referendum

pensionspensions demographic reports, speechesdemographic reports, speeches

terrorismterrorism fax/website claimingfax/website claiming

responsibility, televised threatsresponsibility, televised threats

universityuniversity

admissionadmissionforms, interviewsforms, interviews

taking examstaking examswritten task, marking guidelines,written task, marking guidelines,

commentscomments

finding a jobfinding a job letter of application, interviewletter of application, interview


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Relating texts and their usesRelating texts and their uses

(Fairclough 1989)(Fairclough 1989)

Social contextSocial context

InteractionInteraction

TextText


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Analysing (spoken) text: some parametersAnalysing (spoken) text: some parameters

What greetings and closings are used?What greetings and closings are used?

Turn-taking: Who asks and who answers questions? WhoTurn-taking: Who asks and who answers questions? Who

talks and who listens? Who is interrupted or ignored?talks and who listens? Who is interrupted or ignored?

What role does non-verbal communication play? (gesture,What role does non-verbal communication play? (gesture,facial expression, body posture)facial expression, body posture)

What elements and layout do we find in visual texts?What elements and layout do we find in visual texts?

How do people use language to be polite?How do people use language to be polite?


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Analysing text: some parameters (cont.)Analysing text: some parameters (cont.)

Lexis and clause structure:Lexis and clause structure:

What kind of vocabulary is used? ("freedom fighters, insurgents,What kind of vocabulary is used? ("freedom fighters, insurgents,

"terrorists")"terrorists")

What collocations (word partnerships) do we find? ("against euroWhat collocations (word partnerships) do we find? ("against euro

federalism" vs "embrace federalism")federalism" vs "embrace federalism")

Who is (not) referred to/Who are the actors? ("workers will beWho is (not) referred to/Who are the actors? ("workers will be

made redundant", "banks are being forced to make staffmade redundant", "banks are being forced to make staffredundant")redundant")

What are their actions?What are their actions?

What actions are made into nouns (nominalised)? ("Deutsche BankWhat actions are made into nouns (nominalised)? ("Deutsche Bank

has to make enforcedhas to make enforced redundanciesredundancies")")

What metaphoric expressions are used?What metaphoric expressions are used?


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Evaluation (explicit and implicit):Evaluation (explicit and implicit):

through attribution ("thethrough attribution ("the idealideal candidate" vs "hardly acandidate" vs "hardly a

suitablesuitable applicant")applicant")

through collocations ("against euro federalism" vsthrough collocations ("against euro federalism" vs"embrace federalism")"embrace federalism")

Modality (degree of certainty or obligation):Modality (degree of certainty or obligation):

through modal verbs ("workersthrough modal verbs ("workers willwill be made redundant",be made redundant",

"Deutsche Bank"Deutsche Bankhas tohas to make enforced redundancies")make enforced redundancies")

through attribution ("athrough attribution ("a likelylikely takeover target")takeover target")

through other markers of modality ("culture alsothrough other markers of modality ("culture also

appearsappears

to play a role")to play a role")


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Intertextuality and reported speech:Intertextuality and reported speech:

"BT said it would cut staff numbers" >"BT said it would cut staff numbers" > press release, presspress release, press

briefingbriefing

Presupposition (what writers/speakers assume theirPresupposition (what writers/speakers assume theirreaders to know):readers to know):

"a certain software company in Redmond, WA""a certain software company in Redmond, WA"

I could do with some coffee"I could do with some coffee"

Implicature (what writers/speakers merely imply):Implicature (what writers/speakers merely imply):


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Analysing interaction: some parametersAnalysing interaction: some parameters

What assumptions are made about verbal interaction?What assumptions are made about verbal interaction?(e.g. a greeting will be followed by a greeting )(e.g. a greeting will be followed by a greeting )

What assumptions are made about roles in theWhat assumptions are made about roles in the

interaction (e.g. chair opening a meeting)?interaction (e.g. chair opening a meeting)?

What kinds of texts and interactions do we take forWhat kinds of texts and interactions do we take for

granted?granted?

What practices are related to verbal interaction:What practices are related to verbal interaction:

reading a newspaperreading a newspaper

going to the doctorgoing to the doctor

attending a lectureattending a lecture

watching TVwatching TV


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Analysing social context: some parametersAnalysing social context: some parameters

What social context, i.e. what identities of, and relationsWhat social context, i.e. what identities of, and relationsbetween, people interacting are relevant? (class, profession,between, people interacting are relevant? (class, profession,gender, national and ethnic identities, age etc.)gender, national and ethnic identities, age etc.)

Are identities and relations stable or changing?Are identities and relations stable or changing?

Who owns and who controls the production, distributionWho owns and who controls the production, distributionand reception of texts?and reception of texts?


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Fairclough's model appliedFairclough's model applied


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Analysing text: example (cont.)Analysing text: example (cont.)

Evaluation (explicit and implicit):Evaluation (explicit and implicit):

through attribution ("my actions were too little too late", "it's verythrough attribution ("my actions were too little too late", "it's very

problematic")problematic")

through collocations ("accounting scandals")through collocations ("accounting scandals")

What actions are made into nouns (nominalised)? ("exchange ofWhat actions are made into nouns (nominalised)? ("exchange of

emails")emails")

What are their actions? ("meet with executives", "you stop it")What are their actions? ("meet with executives", "you stop it")

Who is (not) referred to/Who are the actors? ("seniorWho is (not) referred to/Who are the actors? ("senior

management", "top executives", "employees", "the board", "you")management", "top executives", "employees", "the board", "you")


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Analysing text: example (cont.)Analysing text: example (cont.)

Intertextuality and reported speech:Intertextuality and reported speech:

quoted emails >quoted emails > internal company discourseinternal company discourse

Presupposition (what writers/speakers assume their readers toPresupposition (what writers/speakers assume their readers toknow):know):

what the problems at Shell are aboutwhat the problems at Shell are about

the Enron scandalthe Enron scandal

company hierarchycompany hierarchy

through other markers of modality ("executives thatthrough other markers of modality ("executives that I believeI believe areare

on Shell's board")on Shell's board")

through modal verbs ("through modal verbs ("mightmight implode", "implode", "have tohave to come fromcome from

the top", "the top", "needs toneeds to be in the know", "be in the know", "shouldshould be putting inbe putting in

place", "you'place", "you've got tove got to do more")do more")

Modality (degree of certainty or obligation):Modality (degree of certainty or obligation):


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Analysing interaction: exampleAnalysing interaction: example

What assumptions are made about roles in the interaction:What assumptions are made about roles in the interaction:Why does the reporter interview the corporateWhy does the reporter interview the corporaterepresentative? How is the audience acknowledged?representative? How is the audience acknowledged?

What kinds of texts and interactions do we take forWhat kinds of texts and interactions do we take for

granted:granted:

How do we expect a BBC presenter to speak?How do we expect a BBC presenter to speak?

What do we expect to follow a question?What do we expect to follow a question?

What practices are related to the interaction:What practices are related to the interaction:

What form do interviews take? Who listens toWhat form do interviews take? Who listens to

business news on a radio programme at 7.52 am?business news on a radio programme at 7.52 am?


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Analysing social context: exampleAnalysing social context: example

What social context, i.e. what identities of, and relationsWhat social context, i.e. what identities of, and relationsbetween, people interacting are relevant?between, people interacting are relevant?

Are identities and relations stable or changing?Are identities and relations stable or changing?

BBCBBC

Shell/EnronShell/Enron audienceaudience

Who owns and who controls the production,Who owns and who controls the production,

distribution and reception of texts?distribution and reception of texts?


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How you should analyse a text:How you should analyse a text:

analyse the text on several levelsanalyse the text on several levels

go beyond mere description, relate the text to its contextgo beyond mere description, relate the text to its context

remember that the link between text and social context isremember that the link between text and social context is

mediated by interactionmediated by interaction

distinguish between the text and what you think itsdistinguish between the text and what you think its

producer is likeproducer is like

compare texts with regard to genres and discoursescompare texts with regard to genres and discourses

ask what people say, how they say it and why theyask what people say, how they say it and why they

say it the way they dosay it the way they do

Documents

What is Text Week 1