Competences

• a)Develop a thorough knowledge of semantics and pragmatics and their utility in English language learning;
• b)Evaluate how cultural and social context affect language interpretation and communication;
• c)Adapt teaching to address challenges that language learners have in understanding nuanced meanings;
• d)Create learning opportunities which foster learners’ thinking and comprehension skills.
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Knowledge

• a)Define key concepts in semantics including sense, reference, denotation and connotation;
• b)Describe semantic relationships between words such as synonym, antonym, hyponym etc;
• c)Distinguish between different types of meaning;
• d)Explain fundamental principles in pragmatics including context, deixis, reference, speech acts, cooperative principle and implicatures, presupposition;
• e)Describe the influence that culture and context have on pragmatic interpretation.
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Skills

• a)Identify how meaning is created through syntax, lexis and context;
• b)Analyse language through pragmatic theories to derive implied meaning, speaker intention and conversational maxims;
• c)Evaluate discourse for semantic and pragmatic features including coherence, and relevance;
• d)Apply teaching strategies which allow language learners to understand abstract and figurative meaning;
• e)Develop lessons which incorporate semantic and pragmatic principles to teach and guide learners to appreciate language use in context;
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