Variational pragmatics in the foreign language classroom

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

Situational variation has long been an accepted form of intra-lingual variation in speech act realisations. The effect of macro-social factors, such as region, ethnic background, age, social status and gender, on intra-lingual pragmatic conventions has, however, received comparatively little attention in the study of pragmatics to date [Kasper, G., 1995. Wessen Pragmatik? Für eine Neubestimmung fremdsprachlicher Handlungskompetenz. Zeitschrift für Fremdsprachenforschung 6 (1), 69-94, 72-73]. In addition, only very limited attention has been paid to macro-social pragmatic variation in modern dialectology, a discipline which focuses on the effect of macro-social factors on linguistic choices [cf. Wolfram, W., Schilling-Estes, N., 1998. American English. Dialects and Variation. Blackwell, Malden, MA, p. 89]. Variational pragmatics is a newly established sub-field of pragmatics which aims to meet this research gap. It is situated at the interface of pragmatics and dialectology and aims at a systematic investigation of the effect of macro-social pragmatic variation on language in action [cf. Schneider, K.P., Barron, A., 2005. Variational pragmatics: Contours of a new discipline. Unpublished paper presented at the 9th International Pragmatics Conference, Riva del Garda, July 10-15, 2005]. This paper highlights the need for a focus on macro-social factors. It draws attention to the fact that the rather blinkered focus on intra-lingual variation to date has meant that in research and teaching, languages have been generally viewed as homogenous wholes, devoid of regional and social variation. By means of data from a selection of regional intra-lingual pragmatic studies, the paper attempts to highlight a number of parameters relevant to intralingual pragmatic variation. On this basis, a case is made for language teaching to include a variational perspective on conventions of language use.

Original languageEnglish
JournalSystem
Volume33
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)519-536
Number of pages18
ISSN0346-251X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.09.2005
Externally publishedYes

Recently viewed

Publications

  1. Monitoring of microbially mediated corrosion and scaling processes using redox potential measurements
  2. Generative 3D reconstruction of Ti-6Al-4V basketweave microstructures by optimization of differentiable microstructural descriptors
  3. An automated, modular system for organic waste utilization using Hermetia illucens larvae
  4. Atomare Hinterlassenschaften
  5. Anonymized firm data under test: evidence from a replication study
  6. Theorie des Quantum Computings
  7. Construct Clean-Up in Proactivity Research
  8. An introductional lecture on chaotic systems through Lorenz attractor and forced Lotka Volterra equation for interdisciplinary education
  9. Can guided introspection help avoid rationalization of meat consumption?
  10. Intermediate `time-spaces' - The rediscovery of transition in spatial planning and environmental planning
  11. Infinite Mixtures of Markov Chains
  12. Co-EM Support Vector learning
  13. Timing and fragmentation of daily working hours arrangements and income inequality
  14. Differential mortality rates in major and subthreshold depression
  15. Comparison between UKF and EKF in Sensorless Synchronous Reluctance Motor Drives
  16. Improving efficiency in budgeting
  17. Accounting for capacity and flow of ecosystem services
  18. On the combined effect of soil fertility and topography on tree growth in subtropical forest ecosystems - a study from SE China
  19. Motion Capture
  20. Sustainable from the Very Beginning
  21. The auditor as an element of in- and external corporate governance
  22. Internet of Things-Specific Challenges for Enterprise Architectures
  23. Understanding and Communicating Climate Change in Metaphors
  24. Proactivity and Adaptability
  25. Determination of the antifungal agent posaconazole in human serum by HPLC with parallel column-switching technique
  26. Examining long-term impacts of a training programme to improve quality of IEP goals
  27. Can personal initiative training improve small business success?
  28. Resilience or vulnerability? Vegetation patterns of a Central Tibetan pastoral ecotone
  29. Evaluation and sustaining factors of machidukuri groups organized in relation with the 'hope plan'