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Discourse Analysis 2

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Saman Othman
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22 views

Discourse Analysis 2

Uploaded by

Saman Othman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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grammar

Grammar
Coherence
Utterance
Coherence in the interpretation of discourse
Grammar
Grammar (= syntax) deals mainly with the structure of individual
sentences. Grammar is defined as the principles that determine the
formation (structure) and interpretation of words, phrases and
sentences.

The rules of English grammar tell us that if some English words are
combined, they form an acceptable or unacceptable English sentence:

- If you want advice or practical help with help matters, ask your family
doctor, district nurse or health visitor.
(acceptable; grammatical)
- Visitor health or nurse district, doctor family your ask, matters health
with help practical or advice want you if.
(unacceptable; ungrammatical)
Coherence
Read the following text:

A husband and wife had four boys. The odd part of it was that the older
three had red hair, light skin, and were tall, while the youngest son had
black hair, dark eyes, and was short.
The father eventually took ill and was lying on his deathbed when he
turned to his wife and said, "Honey, before I die, be totally honest with
me - is our youngest son my child?"
The wife replied, "I swear on everything that's holy that he is your son."
With that the husband passed away. The wife then muttered, "Thank
God he didn't ask about the other three."
• Coherence is the connection which is brought about by something
outside the text. This ‘something’ is usually knowledge which a
listener or reader is assumed to possess.
• This text is a joke composed of more than one sentence. We may
laugh when the last sentence ends. What will happen if we
randomly put the sentences next to each other? We don’t laugh.

• A discourse, or a text, is not a random sequence of sentences


because it has coherence.

• The previous text was coherent. Now, if we change the order of


the sentences, the text will be incoherent.

• Coherence conveys meanings that are greater than the sum of its
parts: it is more than the addition of separate sentences to each
other. (Meaning is not found in separate sentences).

• Betrayal is that ‘something’ (knowledge) which is out of the text


and the reader has in mind that’s why he/she laughs.
Utterance
• A stretch of speech preceded and followed by silence or a change
of speaker.

A: Have you done your homework?


B: Yeah. B’s answer is an utterance consisted of one
word. Preceded by another utterance which is a
sentence, i.e. A’s question preceded by silence.

A: What’s the time?


Each utterance consists of a sentence:
B: it’s half past seven. A’s question preceded by silence.
B’s answer is an utterance preceded by
another utterance.
A: Look, I’m really fed up. I’ve told you several times to wash your
hands before a meal. Why don’t you do as you are told?
B: But Mum, listen ……..

A’s speech is an utterance which consists of more


than one sentence.
Some examples of conversational exchange:
A: I have run out of petrol.
B: There is a petrol station around the bend.

It is a called a text because it is above the sentence and we have at least two
sentences or utterances.
co-text: actual words and sentences
Above means (context) participants: A & B
time & place of speaking:
Shared knowledge:

- There are two taxi drivers. A stops B and asks about the place.
- The form of the A’s sentence is declarative (= simple statement).
- The function of the A sentence is a request; (A may ask for petrol).
- The form of B’s sentence is declarative.
- B’s sentence has at least two functions:
1- Refusal (B refuses A’s request)
2- Request (B asks A to go the petrol station)
A: Your boss is a very silly man.
B: Ankara is the Capital of Turkey.

Superficially, there is no link between the two sentences.


B is an answer to A.
B tries to shift the topic, because the boss may be near to them and
hear them.
HUSBAND: let’s take the children out.
WIFE: No I-C-E-C-R-E-A-M

- The husband suggests to take the children out.


- We deduce that the wife agrees on condition that they must not
buy them ice-cream.
- The wife says the letters of the word not the word itself so that the
children cannot understand.
- We also infer that the children may be very little and not go to
school.
Discourse
A: Where is John?
B: There is a black BMW at Jane's place.

A asks a question seeking for information.


B’s answer looks like an indirect answer.

Somehow, we understand something:


- We deduce that John has a car.
- The color of the car is black.
- The car is BMW.
- We also deduce that there is a relation between John and Jane.
- Jane has a car, too.
From Newspaper Advertisements
Find the Ball. Win a House. Page 4.

Although it is not stated in the advertisement, we expect that on


page (4) of the newspaper, there will be a competition with the task
determined by the 1st sentence (finding the ball is the task).

The prize detailed in the second.

The 1st sentence is a condition for the second.


A: Can you go to Edinburg tomorrow?
B: B.E.A. pilots are on strike.

A’s sentence is a question in form and request in function.

B’s reply is a negative answer to the question. Strike will prevent the
speaker (B) flying to Edinburg.

Perhaps B intends that he/she is not yet sure whether he/she will try
some alternative transport.
A: That’s the telephone.
B: I’m in the bath.
A: O.K.

A’s first sentence is declarative in form (simple statement),


and a request in function, (A may ask B to answer the telephone).

B’s reply is also declarative in form (simple statement), but it has two
functions:
1- refusal: (B refuses A’s request by giving a reason; being in the bath)
2- request: (B asks A to answer the telephone).

A, in second utterance, accepts B’s request. A undertakes to perform


action.

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