3.3 - Nonliteral Language Flashcards
Is nonliteral language easy to understand with context?
Yes
Jane: Are you going to the happy hour tonght?
Sue: Didn’t you hear Paul is going to be there?
What are Literal vs. Nonliteral interpretation/responses to the following question?
“Would you like a piece of pie?”
Literal: Yes/No
Nonliteral: I am on a diet./Yeah, I want my hips to become huge
Is nonliteral language easy to understand WITHOUT context?
No
I can’t believe you said that!
Good or bad?
What are some examples of nonliteral speech?
7
Sarcasm
Understatement (He’s a little strange.)
Overstatements (I’ve told you a thousand times!)
Metaphor (He’s getting hot under the collar.)
Idioms (Spill the beans.)
Slang (That’s a wicked fast car)
Indirect Speech Acts/Requests (Are you getting hungry?)
Does non-literal language seems to violate the maxims?
Yes
Do we use the cooperative principle to understand the intended message?
Yes
The speaker expects us to recognize the violation
Kelly: How was Nate at dancing?
Lori: He’s a good cook
In nonliteral language does locution match illucution?
Not always
Well he seemed like SUCH a GREAT guy…
“Is your mother at home?” “Yes”
“How much more do you have left to do?” “I’m working as fast as I can!”
“Are you free on Friday” “Yes!” (He likes me!) “Can you watch my dog while I’m out of town?”
What is the Serial (Pragmatic) View of Nonliteral Language? (Searle, 1975)
You always analyze the literal meaning first
If the literal meaning is defective you will then seek a new interpretation (using context and norms)
What does the Serial (Pragmatic) View of Nonliteral Language assume? (Searle, 1975)
The literal meaning is always processed first.
The figurative meaning is harder than the literal
What is the Parallel View of nonliteral language? (Gibbs, 1980s)
You will activate all meanings at once
You will choose the meaning with the strongest activation
With figurative language, interpretations may be changed later
What does the Parallel View of nonliteral language assume? (Gibbs, 1980s)
Figurative and literal meanings are simultaneously processed
Context or frequency of a particular interpretation can affect the strength of activation
What did Gibbes test on his subjects in 1975? (Clean kitchen, open window)
Their ability to read sentences along with either their literal meaning or their nonliteral/indirect meaning
Could you clean the kitchen? vs. Are you able to clean the kitchen? (literal)
Could you clean the kitchen? vs. I want you to clean the kitchen. (indirect/nonliteral)
Subjects had to say whether the second sentences was a restatement of the previous question
What did Gibbes find in his 1975 nonliteral request experiment? What theory did this (Clean kitchen, open window)
That subjects were fastest at verifying the literal meaning
Supports serial view
What was the second set of questions that Gibbes tested on his subjects in 1975? (Clean kitchen, open window + context)
Must you open the window? vs. Need you open the window?
Must you open the window? vs. Do not open the window
The first sentence was inbedded in either a literal or nonliteral paragraph.
Subjects were then asked whether the second sentence was a restatement of the first
What did Gibbes find with his second set of questions in 1975? What theory does this support? (Clean kitchen, open window + context)
When the context was provided, subjects were faster in verifying the nonliteral (indirect) meaning
This supports the parallel view
