学术科研

The Second International Conference on Discourse Pragmatics, hosted by Zhejiang International Studies University (ZISU), took place virtually from October 20th to 22nd, 2023.This great event gathered esteemed scholars and experts from around the world, engaging in stimulating discussions encompassing a wide range of topics within the field of discourse pragmatics. A total of 12 keynote speeches and 18 panel sessions formed the core of the conference program. The conference commenced with an inspiring opening ceremony, which featured a warm and insightful welcoming speech by Professor HONG Gang. As a distinguished research fellow of the Institute of Discourse Pragmatics and former president of ZISU, Professor HONG set the tone for the conference, expressing his gratitude to the participants and emphasizing the significance of discourse pragmatics in the academic landscape.

Figure 1. Prof. HONG Gang

In our increasingly interconnected world, discourse pragmatics assumes a pivotal role in fostering effective communication across diverse cultures, disciplines, and domains. It empowers us to navigate the intricacies of language usage, unravel concealed meanings, and decipher the complex tapestry of social interactions. Through a meticulous examination of the interplay between language, context, and society, we acquire invaluable insights into the construction, negotiation, and interpretation of meaning.

This conference aims to further boost research into discourse pragmatics, exploring the latest topics and trends shaping this dynamic discipline. The theme ofthe conference,“Discourse Pragmatics: Topics and Trends,” reflects our commitment to fostering intellectual exchange and advancing our understanding of the intricate ways in which language is used to convey meaning in various cultures, contexts and genres.

Encompassing a broad spectrum of subjects and delving deep into the intricacies of real-life communicative exchanges, the keynote sessions have unequivocally demonstrated the immense potential and rapid advancement of discourse pragmatics as an intellectually stimulating and ever-evolving academic discipline. Professor Jef Verschueren(University of Antwerp) shed light on the phenomenon of well-intentioned self-deception within public discourse, highlighting the potential consequences of overlooking the intricate mechanisms that generate meaning in language use. By delving into the justifications employed by online commenters to validate their unfavorable judgments or criticisms, Professor RAN Yongping (Guangdong University of Foreign Studies)examined the morally-charged assessments and the subsequent expectations for public apologies, which can pose interpersonal threats to one’s face.Drawing attention to the critical issue of trust within the discourse system,Professor Rosina Márquez Reiter(The Open University) delivered an insightful presentation titled“Establishing and restoring trust in the service of scams.” She explored the various conversational mechanisms through which impersonation is achieved and examined the human reactions when deception occurs. Professor Veronika Koller(Lancaster University) traced the intellectual lineage of critical discourse studies, elucidating its roots in critical linguistics, media studies, and political philosophy. She underscored the remarkable advancements the field has witnessed over the past 15 years and offered valuable insights into potential avenues for future research. In her concluding remarks, she emphasized the significance of integrating pragmatic concepts into the realm of critical discourse studies, highlighting their transformative potential. In a thought-provoking presentation,Professor Istvan Kecskes(State University of New York at Albany) hinted at the complexity of intercultural interactions, advocating for a comprehensive approach that combines bottom-up, sequential utterance analysis with top-down, holistic dialogue segment analysis. He posited the need for a dialogic approach to pragmatics, recognizing the intricate dynamics at play in intercultural communication. Professor TIAN Hailong(China University of Petroleum,Beijing)delved into the conceptualization and application of discursive interaction theory. By proposing a multi-layered, trans-field, cross-history social process as his framework for analyzing“discursive interaction,” he showcased its efficacy in understanding and dissecting social interactions.Examining the legitimizing effect of proximization in discourses of public health crises,Professor ZHANG Hui(Nanjing Normal University) conducted a triangulation-based experiment. Through a corpus linguistic analysis of 180,000 words extracted from Chinese news coverage of COVID-19, he revealed the recurring patterns of proximization strategies employed in such contexts. Professor REN Wei(Beihang University) focused on the self-praise practices of Chinese youth on Weibo and WeChat. By investigating the pragmatic strategies employed in self-praise on Chinese social media and analyzing the translanguaging strategies in Chinese self-praising discourse, he shed light on the intricate dynamics of self-presentation and linguistic choices within digital platforms.Shifting the focus to a comparative study of the pragmatic construction of word meaning in communication between English and Chinese,Professor LI Dandi(Zhejiang Gongshang University) aimed to deepen our comprehension of how speakers effectively convey intended meanings within their unique cultural and linguistic contexts. By exploring the nuanced differences and similarities, he provided valuable insights into cross-cultural communication. Professor Michael Haugh(TheUniversity of Queensland) elucidated the concept of speaker meaning and the dialectic between serious and non-serious talk. He argued for the inclusion of non-serious talk within theories of speaker meaning in pragmatics, emphasizing the need to capture the full spectrum of speaker meanings that emerge during conversational interaction. Professor Dezheng (William) Feng(The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) shared his perspectives on the multimodal construction of pragmatic identity. He put forth a comprehensive framework for analyzing the intricate process of constructing pragmatic identity through multiple modes of communication. This framework comprises three levels of analysis, providing a nuanced understanding of how individuals project their pragmatic identities. To illustrate the applicability of this framework, Professor Feng presented two compelling case studies analyzed within this multifaceted framework. Professor Andreas H. Jucker(University of Zurich) drew attention to the underexplored realm of multimodal aspects in face-to-face communication. Focusing on the study of multimodal speech acts in works of fiction, he delved into the intricate ways in which characters communicate through a combination of verbal and non-verbal gestures. Through a meticulous examination, Professor Jucker explored a diverse range of multimodal pragmatic acts, shedding light on the specific gestures that accompany or silently convey particular types of pragmatic acts. This exploration offers valuable insights into the dynamic interplay between verbal and non-verbal elements in communication.

Figure 2. Keynote speakers

The keynote sessions were moderated by professors and young Ph.D. scholars from ZISU.

Figure 3.Chairs of keynote sessions

The panel discussions covered eleven themes, including discourse pragmatics and academic interaction (chaired by REN Yuxin, Lanzhou University of Technology), unravelling the complexity of speech acts: insights from the syntax-pragmatic interface (chaired by YANG Xiaodong, Zhejiang University of Technology), online communication from the perspective of moral order (chaired by CHEN Qian, Northwest Normal University), discourse pragmatics and culture (chaired byMAO Yansheng, Harbin Engineering University), pragmatics in the discourse of government social media communication (chaired by FENG Debing, Hangzhou Normal University), the affective dynamics of online discourse (chaired by Anna Piata, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), pragmatics of morality in discourse (chaired by Valeria Sinkeviciute from University of Queensland), (im)politeness in online interaction (chaired by XIE Chaoqun, ZISU), the pragmatics of translation and interpreting (chaired by DING Xinru, ZISU), second language pragmatics and intercultural communication competence (chaired by ZHOU Jing, ZISU) and integrated topics of discourse pragmatics (co-chaired by LI Yueyuan, SUN Shunv and XIAO Qimin, ZISU).

Figure 4.Chairs of panel sessions

In his concluding remarks, Professor XING Fukun, dean of the School of English Studies, ZISU, passionately underscored the remarkable success of the conference as a significant international academic event. His remarks encapsulated the spirit of the event, acknowledging the collective achievements and expressing appreciation for the scholars, experts, participants and staff members who contributed to the success of the conference. He highlighted its ability to unite esteemed experts and scholars from diverse countries, fostering a platform for the exchange of profound insights and invaluable wisdom. Professor XING extended heartfelt invitations on behalf of ZISU, urging scholars and research institutions worldwide to actively participate in extensive collaborations with the Institute of Discourse Pragmatics at ZISU. Such collaborations, he emphasized, would undoubtedly contribute to the advancement and enrichment of discourse pragmatics on a global scale.

Figure 5. Prof. XING Fukun

The conference was hosted by the School of EnglishStudies, ZISUand co-organized by the Institute of Discourse Pragmatics, the Center for Foreign Language Education Research, theJournal of ZISU, Springer, and John Benjamins. Over 800 participants attended the conference, including scholars from more than 20 universities and research institutions from India, Belgium, the UK, Italy, the United States, Australia, Switzerland, Greece, Spain, Mexico, Russia, Ukraine, and South Korea, as well as Shanghai International Studies University, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Xi’an Jiaotong University, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Nanjing Normal University, Beihang University, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and many other domestic institutions .

The Second International Conference on Discourse Pragmatics proved to be an exceptional platform that facilitated the exchange of ideas, research findings, and insightful discussions among scholars and experts. This gathering served as a catalyst for the exploration of the latest developments and emerging trends within the realm of discourse pragmatics. As a result, the conference made significant contributions to the advancement of this dynamic field of study, inspiring further research and opening new avenues of exploration in the ever-evolving landscape of discourse pragmatics.