File 7.0-7.4: Pragmatics (F)

Question 1

pragmatics

Answer 1

Pragmatics is the study of the ways people use language in actual conversations. Pragmaticists study both how context helps to determine
whether a particular utterance is appropriate or inappropriate as well as how
changes to context alter sentences’ meanings.

Question 2

What is the difference between sentences and utterances?

Answer 2

A sentence is a phrasal expression that expresses some (complete) idea.
Whenever a person speaks the sentence is becomes an utterance.

Question 3

utterance

Answer 3

Something you utter, or say out loud.

Question 4

context

Answer 4

Sentences don’t have context, but utterances do.

Question 5

deitic

Answer 5

Or placeholder words are always determined by the context in which they are uttered.

Question 6

What are the three types of context?

Answer 6

1. Linguistic
2. Situational
3. Social

Question 7

linguistic context

Answer 7

Related to what preceded a particular utterance in a discourse, what others have said earlier in a conversation. The answer ‘yes’ depends fully on the question asked before it.

Question 8

situational context

Answer 8

Information about the situation in which it is uttered, even though it has not mentioned before in the discourse. If a goat walks by and someone says ‘it smells’.

Question 9

social context

Answer 9

Says something about the relationships between the two people that are speaking and the roles. Your coach can tell you to run laps, but you cant tell him.

Question 10

felicitous

Answer 10

An utterance that is situationally appropriate (How do I look? You look great!).

Question 11

infelicitous

Answer 11

An utterance that is inappropriate (where do you work? I am happy).

Question 12

cooperative principle

Answer 12

That what one says is intended to contribute to the purposes of the conversation. This depends on the context (the way to speak in a business meeting, or at a bar).

Question 13

Which four conversational maxims are there?

Answer 13

1. quality
2. relevance
3. quantity
4. manner

Question 14

conversational maxims

Answer 14

Principles guiding the conversational interactions of both speakers and hearers. Following these maxims is an important aspect of ensuring that our utterances are felicitous.

Question 15

maxims of quality

Answer 15

Our expectations of honesty in conversation. Effective conversation is hindered if the speaker randomly mixes lies with the truth. Two maxims:

1. Don’t what you believe is false
2. Don’t say that for which you lack adequate evidence.

(Example: saying a spider can kill people- for a biologist at a conference, and a bitten human with his friends: they could believe the same statement and say it, it will be in different contexts, but their level of certainty can be the same: felicitous).

Question 16

maxim of relevance/relation

Answer 16

Be relevant. When someone asks you for your dinner plans, don’t tell him how your work day was. When we make an inference, it is an assumption. “Is Renee dating anyone?” “Well, she goes to Zeeland every weekend”. The inference is that Renee is dating someone in Zeeland. Topic changing can happen, if you introduce it.

Question 17

maxims of quantity

Answer 17

How much information it is appropriate for a speaker to give in a discourse. Sometimes less information is needed than other times, it depends on the circumstances: what is rude, or annoying?

Question 18

maxims of manner

Answer 18

Differ critically from the other three maxims. They all have to do with the information a speaker gives/doesn’t give. Manner is about giving and interpreting information: being a good speaking partner. Four “guidelines”:

1. Avoid obscurity of expression (jargon)
2. Avoid ambiguity (he promised to phone at noon: did he promise to phone at noon, or did he promise it at noon?)
3. Be brief (don’t use more words than needed)
4. Be orderly (correct order in words)

Question 19

flouting a maxim

Answer 19

Violating a maxim, but in the circumstances it’s ok and both people understand this.

Examples:

• not wanting to hurt someones feelings
• Changing the subject quickly while gossiping
• Being ironic

Question 20

inference

Answer 20

A conclusion a person is reasonably entitled to draw based on a set of circumstances (seeing a colleague looking at the clock, and assuming the colleague needs to go).

Question 21

implicature

Answer 21

Saying something, without having to literally say it.

Example:
A: “I would like coffee”
B: “There is a place around the corner named Flo’s”.

Implication: Flo’s sells coffee.

Question 22

speech act

Answer 22

Anytime you (try to) speak, you perform a speech act.

Question 23

felicity conditions for a request

Answer 23

1. Speaker believes action has not been done
2. Speaker wants the action to be done
3. Speaker believes the hearer is able to do the action
4. Speaker believes the hearer is willing to do the action

Question 24

felicity conditions for a question

Answer 24

1. Speaker does not know the asked information
2. Speaker wants to know the information
3. Speaker thinks the hearer can supply the information

Question 25

exceptions for flouting questions

Answer 25

Examples:

• Teachers giving exams
• Lawyers questioning the whitness
• Parents teaching children linguistics

Question 26

performative speech act

Answer 26

When an action named by the verb is accomplished in the performance of the speech.

Example: “I am throwing a ball”.
NOT: “I promise to take you to the store later”, as the verb “promise” refers to something happening later and not now.

Question 27

direct speech act

Answer 27

Speech type for saying exactly what you are doing or want done (often rude). There are two ways:
1. Making a direct literal utterance
2. By using a performative verb that names the speech act
Example: I request that you take out the garbage

Question 28

indirect speech act

Answer 28

Speech type for polite way of requesting or asking something Example: would you mind giving me the sugar (please)?

Question 29

declarative

Answer 29

Which speech type are these?
He is cooking.
I would like to know.
I ask you.

Question 30

interrogative

Answer 30

Speech type that is always a question (Is he cooking the chicken?)

Question 31

imperative

Answer 31

Speech type that expresses a command (Cook the chicken).

Question 32

Which type of speech act is: I need you to take out the garbage

Answer 32

declarative order/request

Question 33

Which type of speech act is: Let me tell you that Hennie give a lot of free info

Answer 33

imperative assertion

Question 34

Which type of speech act is: I ask you what Hennie’s last name is

Answer 34

declarative question

Question 35

Which type of speech act is: Can you tell me where Petra lives?

Answer 35

interrogative question