From Context to Conversation: Exploring Pragmatics in Language
Discover the hidden rules of communication as students explore how context and intention shape meaning. This class covers speech acts, entailment, and conversation. Perfect for those curious about linguistics and human interaction.
Serena W, PhD
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(18)
What's included
9 live meetings
8 hrs 15 mins in-class hoursAssignments
1 hour per week. Upon request, I will provide a key quote from pragmatics and one or more questions for the student to respond to in a response paragraph.Assessment
includedClass Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
This class introduces students to linguistic pragmatics, exploring how we communicate meaning beyond the words we say. Topics include deixis and distance, reference and inference, presupposition and entailment, cooperation and implicature, speech acts and events, politeness and interaction, conversational structure, and the influence of discourse and culture. The class is structured into an introduction and eight interactive lessons, each focusing on a key concept with Socratic discussion to reinforce learning. Lessons include short lectures, dynamic slides, and real-life examples. Students will participate in discussions, games, and group exercises to apply concepts and deepen their understanding. My teaching style is student-focused, blending clear explanations with active engagement to make complex topics accessible and fun. Learners will have multiple opportunities to interact with me and their peers during live discussions, guided activities, and Q&A sessions, ensuring they feel supported while exploring this subfield of linguistics known as pragmatics.
Learning Goals
Understand the foundational concepts of pragmatics, including its distinctions from syntax and semanticsAnalyze how context, deixis, and inference shape the meaning of language in real-world communication
Syllabus
9 Lessons
over 3 WeeksLesson 1:
Definitions and background
We’ll lay the foundation for understanding pragmatics by exploring how it differs from syntax and semantics. We’ll discuss patterns of behavior in communication and what has traditionally been studied as part of pragmatics, giving you the tools to understand how meaning is shaped by context, intention, and interaction. 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Deixis
We’ll explore how words like "here," "there," "you," and "yesterday" depend on context to make sense. Through person, spatial, and temporal deixis, you’ll learn how language anchors meaning to people, places, and time. This lesson reveals how communication relies on shared perspectives to connect what we say with the world around us. 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Inference and reference
We’ll uncover how we use language to point to things in the world and how listeners infer meaning beyond the words. Topics include referential and attributive uses, the connection between names and referents, the importance of surrounding text (co-text), and how anaphoric reference helps link ideas across sentences. 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Presupposition and entailment
We will explore how language carries hidden assumptions and logical connections. You’ll learn about different types of presuppositions, how they behave in various contexts (the projection problem), and how entailments follow an ordered structure. 55 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Parental Guidance
This class does not include any upsetting or scary content. All examples and materials are age-appropriate and designed for a supportive learning environment.
Media content used in the class consists of short video clips or slides that are free of violent, explicit, or otherwise inappropriate material. No third-party tools requiring accounts will be used in this course. All class activities will occur within the provided platform, ensuring a secure and accessible learning experience.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
I base my teaching off of these seminal sources:
Grice, H. P. (1975). "Logic and Conversation." In Cole, P., & Morgan, J. L. (Eds.), Syntax and Semantics (Vol. 3, pp. 41–58). Academic Press.
Levinson, S. C. (1983). Pragmatics. Cambridge University Press.
Brown, P., & Levinson, S. C. (1987). Politeness: Some Universals in Language Usage. Cambridge University Press.
Halliday, M. A. K., & Hasan, R. (1976). Cohesion in English. Routledge.
Websites such as the Cambridge Dictionary of Linguistics and Linguistic Society of America for foundational terms and examples.
Selected video clips from reputable linguistic resources such as CrashCourse Linguistics and TED-Ed, which are used to illustrate key concepts.
Joined March, 2020
5.0
18reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
PhD in Linguistics, BA in Secondary Education, Teaching on Outschool since 2020Reviews
Live Group Course
$150
weekly or $450 for 9 classes3x per week, 3 weeks
55 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 14-18
2-6 learners per class
