Research Methods in Cross-cultural and Intercultural Pragmatics

elective courses

The course addresses study design and research methods in applied linguistics and aims at equipping students with the necessary knowledge to design and conduct a small-scale study. After the course students are able to critically analyze different studies, the data collection methods employed, and the analysis carried out. Additionally, the course touches upon the subject of pedagogical applicability of different study results.

The course is devoted to research methods in applied linguistics, with special focus on the exploration of intercultural communication and pragmatics. Its main aim is to familiarize students with different studies, study design, data collection methods and analysis so as to prepare them to critically analyze studies and eventually design their own study. During the course, students explore different types of studies, learning how their result can have a practical application within ELT.

The materials taken into consideration include studies on intercultural communication and pragmatics as well as audiovisual resources.

The theoretical background taken into consideration includes basic concepts connected to intercultural communication and pragmatics, theory of qualitative and quantitative studies and corpus linguistics.

Class activities and home assignments include reading, analysis of different studies, discussion, individual and group work.

The potential conclusions pertain to research methods in applied linguistics, the usefulness of intercultural communication and pragmatics research, as well as to the study design and data analysis. It is also hoped that the course will encourage students to explore the potential of studies in this field and their application to ELT.

Barron, A. (2003). Acquisition in interlanguage pragmatics. learning how to do things with words in a study abroad context. Philadelphia, PA, USA: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Chiappini F., Haugh M. (Eds.). (2009). Face, communication and social interaction. Bargiela-London, GBR: Equinox Publishing Ltd.

Félix-Brasdefer, J. C. (2008). Politeness in Mexico and the United States : A contrastive study of the realization and perception of refusals. Amsterdam, NLD: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Garner M., Wagner C. and Kawulich B. (Eds.). (2009) Teaching research methods in the social sciences. Farnham, Surrey, GBR: Ashgate Publishing Group.

Lotman, J. (2009). In Grishakova M. (Ed.). Semiotics, communication and cognition : Culture and explosion. Berlin, DEU:

Mouton de Gruyter.

Martínez-Flor A., Usó-Juan E. (Eds.). (2010).Speech act performance : Theoretical, empirical and methodological issues. Amsterdam, NLD: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Mefalopulos, P. (2008). Development communication sourcebook : Broadening the boundaries of communication. Herndon, VA, USA: World Bank Publications.

Moder C. L., Martinovic-Zic A. (Eds.). (2004). Discourse across languages and cultures. Philadelphia, PA, USA: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Nakane, I. (2007). Silence in intercultural communication : Perceptions and performance. Amsterdam, NLD: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Ogiermann, E. (2009). On apologising in negative and positive politeness cultures. Amsterdam, NLD: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Thije J. D. t. (Ed.). (2006).Beyond misunderstanding : Linguistic analyses of intercultural communication. Philadelphia, PA, USA: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

After the course students have basic knowledge about the research methodology in applied linguistics, with specific focus on intercultural communication and pragmatics; they are able to analyze different studies critically, formulate research questions, assess the appropriate study design, data collection method and analysis with respect to the previously formulated questions. B2+ level of English.

Interactive presentation (20%), Article Report (20%), Project Work (60%)