An Analysis of Comprehension Problems based on Discourse Analysis and Relevance Theory

The thesis explores the rise of English as a global lingua franca, emphasizing its role in various domains such as economy and technology, where non-native speakers dominate communication. It highlights the need for research on English as a lingua franca (ELF) interactions, particularly through the Tübingen Midwestern Corpus, which includes discussions among international students. The author proposes a structured set of interview questions to analyze comprehension issues in these discussions, integrating Relevance Theory and discourse analysis to understand both linguistic and situational factors affecting communication.