LINGUISTIC FEATURES OF TEACHERS’ QUESTIONS IN LECTURES FROM TOEFL iBT

Abstract

This paper examined the linguistics features of the teachers‟ questions in lectures in English in terms of syntax, semantics and pragmatics. The qualitative study was based on a descriptive framework of functional grammar, Bloom‟s Taxonomy, and speech acts . The presentation of the qualitative information of the kind of questions in lectures was illustrated by examples quoted from transcripts of lectures chosen from TOEFL iBT listening passages. Data were collected from 400 extracts of TOEFL iBT recordings. The data analysis showed the taxonomy of questions used in lectures and found out the syntactic forms of questions in English lectures according to the clause of exchange and the clause of message. The result also showed terms of the semantics of Questions in the view of Bloom‟s Taxonomy. The study put forward some implications to the English teaching and learning concerning the use and interpretation of teacher‟s questions in lectures in English. Pedagogically, the research result can be useful for educators, teachers, lectures, and learners of English, as well as those who are interested in lectures, especially lectures in English