This course examines the linguistic structure of discourse, with an emphasis on learning to identify the emergent structures of spontaneous conversations. Through class discussions and hands-on data analysis, students will explore how the structure of discourse is shaped by cognition, grammar, and social relationships. Specific topics include speech acts, inference and implicature, discourse cohesion, turn-taking, discourse markers, narrative, and repair.
2-4 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit
This course examines the linguistic structure of discourse, with an emphasis on learning to identify the emergent structures of spontaneous conversations. Through class discussions and hands-on data analysis, students will explore how the structure of discourse is shaped by cognition, grammar, and social relationships. Specific topics include speech acts, inference and implicature, discourse cohesion, turn-taking, discourse markers, narrative, and repair.
Offered in Winter 2027 at Stanford University.