Holmes, J. (2011) Language in the workplace: how to analyze workplace discourse. In: Graduate College of Education Distinguished Lecturer Series, Temple University Japan Campus, Tokyo, Japan, June 2011 (Unpublished)

Abstract

This course will provide an overview of research on spoken workplace discourse. Topics which will be covered include transactional and relational talk at work, including features of workplace meetings and the importance of small talk and humour in contributing to good workplace relationships. The course will also consider a range of different leadership styles, and will examine challenging areas such as miscommunication and problematic talk at work. The differences between normatively masculine and feminine styles of leadership will be examined and the contribution of ethnicity to patterns of communication in the workplace will be discussed. The course will consider a range of methods of collecting workplace data and will provide a brief introduction to a variety of approaches to the analysis of workplace discourse. These will include interactional sociolinguistics, conversation analysis, critical discourse analysis, social constructionism, as well as the concept of a community of practice. Applications of the research in a teaching and learning context will also be discussed drawing on materials from the Communication Skills course for Skilled Migrants taught at Victoria University in Wellington.

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