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Language in communication: How it works

General data

Course ID: 2500-OG-EN-LCHW
Erasmus code / ISCED: (unknown) / (0231) Language acquisition The ISCED (International Standard Classification of Education) code has been designed by UNESCO.
Course title: Language in communication: How it works
Name in Polish: Language in communication: How it works
Organizational unit: Faculty of Humanities
Course groups: (in Polish) Zajęcia ogólnouczelniane z dziedziny nauk humanistycznych - w jezykach obcych
General university courses
ECTS credit allocation (and other scores): 4.00 Basic information on ECTS credits allocation principles:
  • the annual hourly workload of the student’s work required to achieve the expected learning outcomes for a given stage is 1500-1800h, corresponding to 60 ECTS;
  • the student’s weekly hourly workload is 45 h;
  • 1 ECTS point corresponds to 25-30 hours of student work needed to achieve the assumed learning outcomes;
  • weekly student workload necessary to achieve the assumed learning outcomes allows to obtain 1.5 ECTS;
  • work required to pass the course, which has been assigned 3 ECTS, constitutes 10% of the semester student load.

view allocation of credits
Language: English
Prerequisites:

none

Type of course:

elective course

Total student workload:

Contact hours with teacher:

- participation in discussion seminar- 20 hrs

- consultations- 10 hrs


Self-study hours:

- preparation for discussion seminar- 20 hrs

- writing essays/ papers/ projects- 0 hrs

- reading literature- 25 hrs

- preparation for test- 25 hrs

- preparation for examination- 0 hrs


Learning outcomes - knowledge:

Student:

K_W01: is acquainted with basic linguistic terminology and can make use of it;

K_W10: knows the model of interpersonal communication;

K_W11: can tell the difference between openly persuasive utterances and utterances aiming at misleading the addressee as to their real purpose;



Learning outcomes - skills:

Student:

K_U03: explains basic linguistic notions and applies them to linguistic analysis;

K_U10: recognizes the speaker's communicative intentions;

K_U09: identifies the factors that make communication difficult (i.e. communication barriers) and can neutralize them;

K_U10: can analyze functions of an utterance as the speaker and the hearer;

K_U10: makes use of strategies protecting him / her from unethical communicative behaviour of the interlocutor;

K_U11: can produce utterances in accordance with his / her communicative purpose, as well as with the rules of politeness and the relation between interlocutors;


Learning outcomes - social competencies:

Student:

K_K02: understands mechanisms of cultural and communicative transformations and perceives a language as their mirror

K_K06: understands social meaning of the studied subject

K_K13: can effectively communicate with others, in oral and written form.


Teaching methods:

Expository teaching methods:

- informative lecture

- programmed material

- discussion

-participatory lecture

-problem-based lecture


Exploratory teachig methonds:

-classic problem-solving

-seminar

-case study


Short description:

Language in Communication: How it Works addresses selected issues of linguistic pragmatics, dealing with what is going on between the speaker and the addressee in communication. It discusses such problems as mechanisms of interpreting indirect speech acts (deriving implicit meanings), the reasons why people communicate in an implicit way or apply politeness strategies in their linguistic behaviour. It will be shown that most of our everyday communication actually goes beyond what the speaker says explicitly, which can be described in terms of particular communicative rules. Also, some problems of psychology of communication will be discussed, both from the speaker’s and from the addressee’s perspective. It will be demonstrated how possible psychological biases on the part of the addressee can cause her misunderstanding of the message content. Finally, we will approach selected problems of persuasive communication and manipulation.

Full description:

1. Introduction to pragmatics. Conversational logic by Paul Grice: the principle of communication and communicative maxims. Interpreting implicit content in the Gricean model. The problem of irony and lie.

2. Relevance Theory by D. Sperber & D. Wilson. Interpreting implicit content in the Relevance model.

3. “Politeness” as a principle of conversational cooperation. “Politeness strategies” (G. N. Leech, P. Brown & S. Levinson, M. Marcjanik). Principles of politeness in the light of E. Goffmann’s idea of “social face”.

4. Explicit and implicit communication in a psychological model of communication – the “square” of Schulz von Thun. Four aspects of communication: matter of fact, appeal, relation, self-disclosure. Identifying and correcting communicative dysfunctions/misunderstandings.

5. “Giraffe language” and “jackal language” – R. M. Rosenberg’s idea of non-violent communication (NVC).

6. Persuasive speech acts: discussion, argument, debate. The art of persuading; persuasion <> manipulation. Arguments: logical, factual, ex concessis, ab exemplo. Deduction vs induction. Correct argumentation (following facts and logical rules) vs fallacious argumentation: overgeneralisation, fallacies in reasoning, reversed cause-effect relation, lack of clarity, vicious circle, etc.; domino effect. Supporting logical and matter-of-fact argumentation: parallel argumentation (vs sequential), exemplifying, arguments from authority, ad populum, appealing to emotions.

7. Dishonest argumentative techniques: arguments ad personam, ad baculum, false premises, distracting attention (red herring), biased interpretation (straw man fallacy), etc.

8. Psychological factors in persuasion: “psychologically naïve” persuasion methods –pressure, blackmailing, lying; how to defend against pressure and blackmail; “psychologically advanced” manipulative methods: mechanism of reciprocity and the rule of “big request”, mechanism of consistence and the rule of “small request”, mechanism of conformity, friendliness, reliability and authority, reduced availability, contrast, repetition, compromise, rationalisation, relax. Appealing to the addressee’s psychological “metaprogrammes”.

9. Linguistic means of manipulation: evaluative words, a specific use of the pronouns we, our and the style characteristic of the addressee’s social background vs they, those people (out there); presuppositions, implications, personal vs impersonal forms, euphemisms vs hyperboles, generalised sentences, the addressee-oriented imagery etc.

10. Recapitulation: communication as balancing between an effective expression of one’s views/feelings and effective appeal to the addressee. Final test.

Bibliography:

1. Berne E.: Games People Play. The Psychology of Human Relationships. NY: Grove Press 1964. {http://opac.bu.umk.pl/webpac-bin/B_horizonPL/wgbroker.exe?2017082500013005024300+1+scan+select+3+0}

2. Cialdini R. B.: Influence: the Psychology of Persuasion. NY: Harper Business 2006. {http://opac.bu.umk.pl/webpac-bin/B_horizonPL/wgbroker.exe?2017082500013005024300+1+search+select++2+1}

3. Goffman E.: Interaction Ritual: Essays in Face-to-Face Behavior. London: Penguin Books.

4. Grice P.: Logic and conversation, [in:] P. Cole, J. L. Morgan (eds.), Syntax and Semantics vol. 3. NY: Academic Press 1975, 41-58. {http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ls/studypacks/Grice-Logic.pdf}

5. Leary M.: Self-presentation: Impression Management and Interpersonal Behavior. NY: Avalon Publishing 1996.

6. Leech G.: Principles of Pragmatics. London, NY: Longman 1989.

7. Perelman C., Olbrechts-Tyteca L.: The New Rhetoric: A Treatise on Argumentation. Notre Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame 1969. {https://books.google.pl/books?id=dYQlDwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Chaim+Perelman&hl=pl&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwibvtTQ8fDVAhWB6RQKHSs5DisQ6AEIQjAE#v=onepage&q=Chaim%20Perelman&f=false}

8. Rosenberg M. B.: Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life. Encinitas, Ca.: Puddledancer Press 2003.

9. Searle J.: Speech Acts: An Essay in the Philosophy of Language. Cambridge: CUP 2009. {http://opac.bu.umk.pl/webpac-bin/B_horizonPL/wgbroker.exe?2017082500460103993772+1+search+select++2+10}

10. Sperber D., D. Wilson: Relevance. Communication and cognition. Oxford: Basil Blackwell 1996.

Assessment methods and assessment criteria:

Assessment methods:

- participation in lectures

- final test

- activity in class

Assessment criteria:

- active participation (min. 70%) (K_K06, K_U10, K_U09, K_K13);

- passing a final test (K_W01, K_W10, K_W11, K_U03, K_U10) .

Classes in period "Winter semester 2024/25" (past)

Time span: 2024-10-01 - 2025-02-23
Selected timetable range:
Go to timetable
Type of class:
Discussion seminar, 20 hours more information
Coordinators: Izabela Duraj-Nowosielska
Group instructors: Izabela Duraj-Nowosielska
Students list: (inaccessible to you)
Credit: Course - Grading
Discussion seminar - Grading
Short description:

As in the general section.

Full description:

As in the general section.

Bibliography:

As in the general section.

Notes:

Stationary classes on Mondays 11.30, Collegium Maius

Presentations and other materials will be available at Teams:

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/team/19%3At3aVldCt0iRUH68IFBv84tMNhEcCFja1sMv6xnVUIF41%40thread.tacv2/conversations?groupId=95aea7a5-ef93-44c9-9fbe-ccc50383cc8c&tenantId=e80a627f-ef94-4aa9-82d6-c7ec9cfca324

access code will be sent by e-mail

In case of obligatory online-learning at university during the term, the meetings will be held in due time at Teams as well. The requirements and methods will remain the same.

Consultations: Mondays 16.30-17.30, room 408 Collegium Maius.

At that time there is a possibility to join online consultations (though in case there is a larger amount of people, students who come in person have priority):

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/team/19%3a6exKnW3Dp5DX9VJBrRbpeiUUD_uOAiA59Lhluv7e5fk1%40thread.tacv2/conversations?groupId=1abf66f5-252f-41af-9be8-6db18a50a3de&tenantId=e80a627f-ef94-4aa9-82d6-c7ec9cfca324

open team, without an access code

Requirements to get a grade: a) active participation (absence 2x1,5h allowed); b) passing a final test

Classes in period "Winter semester 2025/26" (future)

Time span: 2025-10-01 - 2026-02-22
Selected timetable range:
Go to timetable
Type of class:
Discussion seminar, 20 hours more information
Coordinators: Izabela Duraj-Nowosielska
Group instructors: Izabela Duraj-Nowosielska
Students list: (inaccessible to you)
Credit: Course - Grading
Discussion seminar - Grading
Short description:

As in the general section.

Full description:

As in the general section.

Bibliography:

As in the general section.

Notes:

Stationary classes on Mondays 11.30, Collegium Maius

Presentations and other materials will be available at Teams:

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/team/19%3At3aVldCt0iRUH68IFBv84tMNhEcCFja1sMv6xnVUIF41%40thread.tacv2/conversations?groupId=95aea7a5-ef93-44c9-9fbe-ccc50383cc8c&tenantId=e80a627f-ef94-4aa9-82d6-c7ec9cfca324

access code will be sent by e-mail

In case of obligatory online-learning at university during the term, the meetings will be held in due time at Teams as well. The requirements and methods will remain the same.

Consultations: Mondays 16.30-17.30, room 408 Collegium Maius.

At that time there is a possibility to join online consultations (though in case there is a larger amount of people, students who come in person have priority):

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/team/19%3a6exKnW3Dp5DX9VJBrRbpeiUUD_uOAiA59Lhluv7e5fk1%40thread.tacv2/conversations?groupId=1abf66f5-252f-41af-9be8-6db18a50a3de&tenantId=e80a627f-ef94-4aa9-82d6-c7ec9cfca324

open team, without an access code

Requirements to get a grade: a) active participation (absence 2x1,5h allowed); b) passing a final test

Course descriptions are protected by copyright.
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