Pragmatic Flashcards
Pragmatics
the study of linguistic meaning in context
pragmatics is interested in how language is used
What is the difference between pragmatic and semantics
the semantics studies the meaning of words and their meaning without the emphase on the context (more systematised)
Why is language ambiguous?
Because the meaning of words, phrases, sentences may
vary according to the situations.
What is the “code model” of communication
Speaker : has a thought, encode it, give the message (speak)
Hearer : hear the message, decode it, has a thought
Why is the code model too simple?
- It neglects the role of context
- meanings are not “in the words” only.
- It neglects the role of inference
Inference
hearers figuring out what speakers meant althought they didn’t literally say it.
we say the message is “enriched” by the listener.
Give an exemple of an interlocutor inferring a message
someone says “it’s hot in here”. The interlocutor understand they expect them to open the window.
According to pragmatic what is important in a language?
- knowing how to encode messages to transmit them
- meaning is contextually bound
- conversation is a collaborative activity
What are the important elements to define the context of a conversation?
- Physical environment
- Participants
- Social setting
- Prior discourse
- Cultural norms and excpectations
Prior discourse
things one knows their interlocutor know or don’t
Give an exemple of the importance of cultural norms and expectations
In France, the teacher calls us by our first name but we don’t call them by their first name
=> might be different in another country.
“The interlocuteur often infers the meaning of the message”
what does “infers” mean here
deduces
Is the use of inference rare?
No, it’s the norm, not the exception.
Locutionary act
“what is said” the literal meaning of the words
Illocutionary act
what the speaker wants to convey with these words
Direct speech act
Give an exemple
Locution and Illocution coincide (You say just what you mean.)
> I hereby pronounce you husband and wife
Indirect speech act
Give an exemple
Locution and Illocution differ from one another
Could you wash the dishes
(what is meant = go wash the dishes)
is stating facts an important function of language in use?
No, it turns out to be a very minor function of language in use.
Constative utterances
Constatives are propositions which can be stated positively or negatively, they are statements of facts which could be right or wrong.
=> mostly informative
e.g. It’s raining
Performative utterances
- performatives are formulated to achieve something
- saying it means doing it
- always in the first person singular and in the simple present
e.g. I apologise
Illocutionary force
= the speaker’s intention in producing that utterance
e.g. It’s raining = take your umbrella
Perlocutionary act
the effect that the speech has on the context participants
= what is achieved as a result of the utterance
e.g. “It’s raining” > the interlocutor stays at home
Analyse “Open the window”
Locutionary effect = John told me to open the window
Illocutionary effect = John suggested that I open the window
Perlocutionary effect = John had me open the window
Analyse “There is a dog in the field”
Locutionary effect = The speaker says there is a dog in the field
Illocutionary effect = Be careful, be aware of the dog
Perlucutionary effect = I decide to not go near the field
