LINGUIST List 17.3318
Tue Nov 14 2006
Diss: Pragmatics/Socioling/Discourse Analysis: Tran: 'The Nature an...'
Editor for this issue: Hannah Morales
<hannahlinguistlist.org>
Directory
1. Giao
Tran,
The Nature and Conditions of Pragmatic and Discourse Transfer in Cross-cultural Interaction Investigated through Naturalized Role-play
Message 1: The Nature and Conditions of Pragmatic and Discourse Transfer in Cross-cultural Interaction Investigated through Naturalized Role-play
Date: 13-Nov-2006
From: Giao Tran <gqtranmtgmail.com>
Subject: The Nature and Conditions of Pragmatic and Discourse Transfer in Cross-cultural Interaction Investigated through Naturalized Role-play
Institution: University of Melbourne
Program: Department of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
Dissertation Status: Completed
Degree Date: 2005
Author: Giao Quynh Tran
Dissertation Title: The Nature and Conditions of Pragmatic and Discourse Transfer in Cross-cultural Interaction Investigated through Naturalized Role-play
Dissertation URL: http://linguistlist.org/get-book.html?BookID=21184
Linguistic Field(s):
Discourse Analysis
Pragmatics
Sociolinguistics
Subject Language(s): English (eng)
Vietnamese (vie)
Dissertation Director:
Carsten Roever
Joanna Tapper
Dissertation Abstract:
For decades, the first linguistic and cultural influence on second languageperformance (technically known as pragmatic and discourse transfer) incross-cultural interaction has fascinated researchers because its natureand especially its conditions have never been fathomed out. The aims ofthis investigation are threefold. First, it examines the nature ofpragmatic and discourse transfer in compliment responses by Vietnamesespeakers of English as a second language in cross-cultural interaction withAustralians. The examination also takes into account data fromconversations among Australian English native speakers and interactionbetween Vietnamese counterparts. Second, the research project investigatesthe underexplored conditions of pragmatic and discourse transfer. In thequest for the nature and conditions of pragmatic and discourse transfer,research methodologies provoke much debate because they have differentadvantages and disadvantages, though the ultimate goal remains thecontrolled elicitation of data that is comparable to real-life production.The third aim of the present study is to propose and validate an innovativemethodology of data collection in cross-cultural and interlanguagepragmatics research - the Naturalized Role-play. This methodology iscapable of realizing the highly desirable but virtually impossible goal ofeliciting spontaneous data in controlled settings.
In reference to the methodological design of the research project theNaturalized Role-play provided the main corpus of data on pragmatic anddiscourse transfer whose in-depth analysis revealed the nature of thisphenomenon. In addition to Naturalized Role-play data, backgroundquestionnaire and retrospective interview data was collected to exploreconditions of pragmatic and discourse transfer. To demonstrate theeffectiveness and validity of the Naturalized Role-play, complimentresponse data collected by means of the Naturalized Role-play was comparedwith data from other major methods including the questionnaire, closedrole-play, open role-play and natural data recording.
Findings of this investigation indicated what was transferred and howpragmatic and discourse transfer patterned, upon which new hypotheses wereformulated. The investigation also uncovered as yet unknown conditions ofpragmatic and discourse transfer (e.g. awareness in language production)and their interaction. Moreover, the Naturalized Role-play proved to fulfilits aim. It can combine advantages of major methods without their drawbacksand is more effective (i.e. providing more natural data) than existingmeans of data elicitation.
In essence, based on the Naturalized Role-play approach, this investigationsheds new light on the nature of pragmatic and discourse transfer, offersinsights into its conditions and features a pioneering creative solution tothe controversial methodological problem. The study also presentsimplications of its findings for second language learners, teachers andnative speakers of different languages in social interactions wherecultures meet.
Note: This dissertation has been published as:Tran, Giao Quynh (2006). The Nature and Conditions of Pragmatic andDiscourse Transfer Investigated through Naturalized Role-play. Muenchen:Lincom Europa.http://www.lincom.at
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