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: 4