Sp556 Language, Culture, & Meaning
Thursday, 4:30- 8:00 p.m., NH 26


Dr. David Ritchie. NH41; 725-3550; ritchied@pdx.edu
web page: http://web.pdx.edu/~cgrd/
Office hours: Tuesday, Thursday, 11:00 - 12:00, Thursday, 3:-4:00 or by appointment

Required Text: Clark, H. H. (1996). Using Language. Cambridge.
Additional readings will be assigned to the entire class from time to time.

The Topic: Clark has assembled a theory of language use, based on a broad interpretation of "language" that includes effectively all communicative acts. Consequently, his theory can also be viewed as a theory of communication, broadly construed. This seminar is intended to achieve three overall objectives:
  1. Understand communication as a simultaneously social and cognitive process.
  2. Become familiar with particular theories Clark draws on, including Relevance Theory, Speech Act Theory, and cognitive theories of language interpretation and meaning.
  3. Develop an understanding of how Clark's model can be integrated with other approaches to communication, e.g. institutional and relational approaches.
Additionally, it is expected that each student will form an understanding of how these ideas can be applied to at least one particular theoretical or practical issue in communication.

Format.

The class will operate as a theory / research seminar. Every student is expected to pursue a project related to the overall topic, culminating in a literature review focused on either a theoretical issue or an applied communication issue. Each week, students will bring outside materials from their own research into class; as the class progresses, students will take turns making somewhat more formal presentations of their work. These presentations will both elaborate on the ideas presented in Clark and show how Clark's theories relate to other theories and perspectives in Communication.

Attendance: Given the seminar format, regular attendance and full participation in every class meeting is essential both to the individual student and to the class. Unexcused absences, repeated late arrivals, or failure to keep up with assigned readings will result in a failing grade.

Assignments:
  1. (Weekly) Individually or in groups, select a topic or setting such as courtship, intercultural communication, families, counseling, institutions, cell-phones, mediated news, small group communication, public relations - whatever is of paramount interest to you. Alternatively, you may select a particular aspect or topic from the course content (such as intentionality, relevance theory, speech act theory, gesture, figurative speech) to explore in greater depth. Either way, each week you will bring reading notes based on Clark as well as on outside readings specific to your topic, and be prepared to lead class discussion about (1) how the week's readings from Clark illuminate your topic and (2) how the outside readings you have done illuminate the topics covered in the assigned reading from Clark. Reading notes will be turned in at the end of class.

  2. Term paper, due June 1, 20-30 pages plus references. Choose a particular topic (see assignment #1, above). Your essay will focus on a particular aspect of the general topic; in your paper you will critique and synthesize ideas from Clark and from your outside readings in order to elaborate some part of the overall theory, show how it applies to a particular issue in human communication, etc. The topic is fairly open, and presumably will be drawn from issues and concerns you have developed during your previous course-work.

    3. Due May 11: A working abstract and 8-12 page working draft of your term paper, with a provisional list of references.

Grading: Grades for the class will be based on the term paper, class presentations, and the quality of weekly class participation. There may also, at my discretion, be a written essay style final exam.

Weekly Schedule


Section I: The basic model.

March 29: Organizational meeting. Student interests. Overview of the topic and how it relates to Communication and to other disciplines.

April 6: Clark's overall model of language use; how Clark's model connects with other theories and concerns.

Readings to be completed by April 6:

Clark, Chapter 1.

Ritchie, D. (2004). Metaphors in Conversational Context: Toward a Connectivity Theory of Metaphor Interpretation. Metaphor and Symbol, 19, 265-287.

Come prepared to explain and discuss Clark's model of language use and relate it to pertinent theories of communication.

Section II: Communication as a Joint Activity

Readings to be completed by April 13:

Clark, Chapters 2-4

Barr, D. J., and Keysar, B. (2005). Making sense of how we make sense: The paradox of egocentrism in language use. Pp. 21-42 in Colston, H. L., and Katz, A. N. (Eds.), Figurative language comprehension: Social and cultural influences. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Section III: Communicative Acts:

Readings to be completed by April 20:

Clark, Chapters 5-6

Section IV: Levels of action

Readings to be completed by May 4:

Clark, Chapters 7-9

Section V: Conversation

Readings to be completed by May 18:

Clark, Chapters 10-13

Section VI: Qualifications and Expansion

The last couple of class meetings will be devoted to presentation and discussion of student projects.