You may speak English, but do you speak American?
Pragmatics for Success in Real World Communication
Abigail Bruhlmann – NJTESOL/NJBE Spring Conference – May 27, 2015
abruhlmann@els.edu
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Two colleagues run into each other in an elevator…
Conversation 1:
Person A:
Hi, how are you?
Person B:
I good. No complain for me. You, how are?
Person A:
__________________________________.
Conversation 2:
Person C:
Hi, how are you?
Person D:
I’ve been better. Can you believe the pollen in the air lately? There are clouds of it
blowing off the trees. It’s making my allergies act up like crazy and I’ve got snot
running down my face all day long - I just can’t keep enough tissues on me. I can’t
sleep at night because it feels like someone’s waving a feather duster up my nose. Oh, and
not to mention my eyes. The redness from the pollen coupled with the lack of sleep you might as well call me Dracula. Do you have any Claritin on you?
Person C: ___________________________________.
• Who has a better command of the English language, Person B or D?
• How do you think Person A would respond in Conversation 1? Person C in Conversation 2?
• Which conversation will likely be more successful, Conversation 1 or 2?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Textbook Telephone Dialogues vs. the Real Thing
[Word of Mouth, p. 49] – Wong p. 45
Kim: (Phone rings) Hello?
Matt: Hi. Is Kim there?
Kim: This is Kim.
[Expressways, p. 15] – Wong p. 51
A. Hello, Steve? This is Jackie.
B. Hi. How are you doing?
A. Pretty good. How are you?
B. Okay. Listen, I can’t talk right now. I’m
taking a shower.
A. Oh ok, I’ll call back later.
B. Speak to you soon.
#247 – Wong p. 40
ring
R Hallo
C Hello, Jim?
R Yeah
C It’s Bonnie.
R Hi,
C Hi, how are yuh
R Fine, how’re you,
C Oh, okay I guess
R Oh, okay,
C Uhm (0.2) what are you doing New Year’s
Eve?
Source: Wong, J. (2002). “Applying” Conversation Analysis in Applied Linguistics: Evaluating Dialogue in
English as a Second Language Textbooks. International Review of Applied Linguistics (IRAL),
40, 37-60.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
Teaching Pragmatics
Form
• subject + modal verb “should” + base form of main verb
Ex) If you feel sick, you should go to the doctor.
Meaning
• “should” means that we are giving advice to someone
Use
•
“Should” is very direct and is used when the person giving advice has a much higher status than
the person receiving advice. It can also be used when the two individuals have a close
relationship.
How can I manage my Type II diabetes?
You should stop eating sugary foods.
•
“Should” is not appropriate when the two people speaking are of equal status but don’t have a
close relationship. Imagine that two acquaintances had the following conversations:
I almost miss the bus every morning.
You should get up earlier.
•
Do you think I should ask Brian out? He’s so cute.
You totally should!
I miss my family.
You should call them every day.
A softer equivalent to “should” is “maybe you could”
I almost miss the bus every morning.
Maybe you could try getting up earlier.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Let’s try it out! Activity #1: The Big Bang Theory
knock knock knock
Leonard _______________________________________?
Sheldon Not particularly.
Leonard ________________________________________?
Sheldon I suppose I could if I were asked.
knock knock knock knock
Leonard _______________________________________?
Sheldon Well, of course! Why do you have to
make things so complicated?
knock knock knock
Leonard Wanna get that?
Sheldon Not particularly.
Leonard Could you get that?
Sheldon I suppose I could if I were asked.
knock knock knock knock
Leonard Would you please get that?
Sheldon Well, of course! Why do you have to
make things so complicated?
1. What is the relationship between Leonard and Sheldon?
2. Are they of equal status, or does one have higher/lower status than the other?
3. What is Leonard really saying with “Wanna get that?”
4. What is the difference in formality between “Wanna,” “Could you,” and “Would you please”?
5. If Leonard had been speaking with his supervisor at work, would he have said, “Wanna get that?”
6. Write down a situation where “Wanna get that” is appropriate: ______________________________________________
7. Write down a situation where “Would you please get that” is appropriate: _________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2
Let’s try it out! Activity #2: How to end a conversation
Watch the following video tutorial on how to end a conversation politely: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ce8u2OFrrXM
Then, imagine yourself in the following scenarios and try it out yourself with a partner:
1. You are a student at a university and bump into a friend in the hallway. You have to go to your
next class.
2. You are a cocktail reception at a professional networking event and you want to get out of a boring
conversation with a person you have just met.
3. You stopped by your boss’s office at the end of the day to drop off some paperwork and you
have to go pick up your daughter from preschool. Your boss is in a chatty mood.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Let’s try it out! Activity #3: Awkward Interactions
Buzzfeed video: Signs You’re Not Good at Smalltalk You Prolong Conversations
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2-8Fm1EUXw
The video from the previous slide
described the three stages of how to end
a conversation politely (reason, future,
goodbye). Which stage does, “Yeah, well,
I got my coffee. I’m gonna get to it”
represent?
-Yeah, well, I got my coffee, I’m gonna get to it.
Alright.
-So I’ll see you around.
Get to it.
What would have been a socially
-Talk to you later (walks away)
appropriate way to end this
Uh hey, how was your weekend?
conversation?
-Uh what?
Uh no uh sorry, you, you were going.
Why is it sometimes difficult to end a
-Ok, talk to you later man
conversation (especially in a second
Like it was good though?
language)?
-What?
Your weekend.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Let’s try it out! Activity #4: More Awkward Interactions
Buzzfeed video: Signs You’re Not Good at Smalltalk
A Good-Bye May Not Bring Relief
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2-8Fm1EUXw
yeah i need to go too actually, so I’m just gonna
yeah i’m about ready to head out
ok
oh are
oh you’re walking this way?
yeah
yeah uh
3
yeah
yeah this is good
yeah totally
um yeah so
this is weird
yeah
i think i’m. i’m actually going to go to the bathroom, but it was good...it was good seeing you.
um yeah, i need to go to the bathroom too
oh, oh, oh, ok
1. What was, “Yeah I’m about ready to head out” supposed to signal?
2. Why was the interaction awkward when the two speakers figured out that they were walking in the
same direction?
3. Did the girl think it was appropriate that they guy said that he needed to go to the bathroom too? Why
do you think so?
4. How can you avoid an awkward situation like this?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Resources!
• Textbook that includes pragmatics:
Intermediate Grammar: From Form to Meaning and Use
(Recommendation from Vellenga, 2004)
Amazon.com description: “This book is a reference and practice book which introduces grammatical
structures in authentic language and context and provides a wealth of exercises for practice.”
• www.engvid.com - Videos of mini-lessons that deal with pragmatic topics, such as:
How to steal a conversation
How to say end a conversation politely
How to keep a conversation going
The secret to successful socializing
• AmericanEnglish.State.Gov – ready-made activities!
http://americanenglish.state.gov/resources/teaching-pragmatics
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Notes:
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