The suitability of film for modelling the pragmatics of interaction: Exploring authenticity

Abstract

Previous studies have highlighted the potential of film to promote the development of L2 pragmatics by presenting to learners the types of authentic, contextually-appropriate language use routinely absent from textbooks. However, the issue of authenticity is multifaceted and there has been little if any exploration of authenticity in terms of larger sequences within scripted texts. Sequence authenticity is particularly relevant to learners, as it demonstrates how actions are achieved over multiple turns, and how utterances are designed to 'fit' with previous turns and how they shape the next turn; difficulties in this domain can prove highly problematic. To explore the pedagogical potential of generalrelease films, the present study analysed dialogue from 20 popular English-language movies, and reports findings relating to invitation sequences and the overall structuring practices found in phone call openings and closings. The findings reveal systematic and highly recurrent ways in which film dialogues tend to deviate from ordinary speech. These findings are discussed in terms of the conventions of narrative film and key principles of drama.

Using audiovisual material to teach refusals from a discursive perspective: a research-based proposal

“…Instead, they argue scripted and planned elements are used to reflect conversations (e.g. Kozloff 2000;Ryan & Granville 2020). Nevertheless, and in agreement with Kaiser & Shibahara (2014: 1), this material constitutes "a window into the world of the target language and culture," and it represents a more useful source than textbooks to describe the context of meaning.…”

Fostering learners’ (meta)pragmatic awareness through film analysis

“…Indeed, several researchers have argued that film-based dialogues fail to reflect the pragmatics of ordinary speech (Kozloff, 2000;Cohen, 2008;Rossi, 2011;Toolan, 2011). Particularly, in the recent study conducted by Ryan and Granville (2020), which aimed at examining invitation sequences and the openings and closings of phone calls in films and in daily life, the authors reported a clear mismatch between the pragmatics of film dialogues and ordinary conversations. After a rigorous conversational analysis of turn-by-turn progression sequences, findings revealed that some aspects of the "sequencing of talk" are not represented in film dialogues, suggesting that films may reflect inaccurate models of conversations (Ryan & Granville, 2020, p. 11).…”

Whole issue 14

“…Indeed, several researchers have argued that film-based dialogues fail to reflect the pragmatics of ordinary speech Cohen, 2008;Rossi, 2011;Toolan, 2011). Particularly, in the recent study conducted by Ryan and Granville (2020), which aimed at examining invitation sequences and the openings and closings of phone calls in films and in daily life, the authors reported a clear mismatch between the pragmatics of film dialogues and ordinary conversations. After a rigorous conversational analysis of turn-by-turn progression sequences, findings revealed that some aspects of the "sequencing of talk" are not represented in film dialogues, suggesting that films may reflect inaccurate models of conversations (Ryan & Granville, 2020, p. 11).…”