Pragmatics

Question 1

Pragmatics look at:

Answer 1

• meaning/effects of utterances
• condition under which they are used in certain
  communicativ situations

Question 2

Semanitcs

Answer 2

abstract grammatical entity derived within a language system

Question 3

Utterance

Answer 3

instance of the entity in an actual context

Question 4

co operative principle ( Paul Grice)

Answer 4

• relation: be relevant
• quality: a) do not lie
  b) do not say that for which you lack adequate evidence
• quantity: a) as informative as required
  b) only as informative as required
• manner: a) avoid obscurity of expression
  b) avoid ambiguity
  c) be brief
  d) be orderly

Question 5

not adhering to the maxims

Answer 5

• violating (lying, not giving enough relevant
  information, blabbering on)
• clash between maxims
• flouting a maxim

Question 6

Conversational implicature

Answer 6

‘Suppose that A and B are talking about a mutual friend, C, who is now working in a
bank. A asks B how C is getting on in his job and B replies
Oh, quite well, I think; he likes his colleagues, and he hasn’t been to prison yet.’

Question 7

Politeness principle

Answer 7

‘Minimize (other things being equal) the expression of impolite beliefs.’
A: We’ll all miss Bill and Agatha, won’t we.
B: Well, we’ll all miss Bill.