Pragmatics Flashcards
Anglo American View (Pragmatics)
Pragmatics is seen as another component in a theory of language, adding to the usual phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics.
Continental European View (Pragmatics)
In this view Pragmatics is the superordinate field with disciplines such as Linguistics Sociology and Psychology as subfield
Deixis
The way language “points to” spatial, temporal, and personal features of context. e.g.: YOU have been HERE for three weeks NOW
‘Time, place, person’
Personal Deixis
Typically personal pronouns e.g I, You, We etc
Spatial Deixis
Typically demonstratives, and certain adverbs, verbs of motion and prepositions, e.g., this, that, here, there, come, go, opposite, away, etc.
Temporal Deixis
Typically adverbs and names for units of time, e.g., now, then, recently, soon, today, tomorrow, yesterday, next week, etc.
Presupposition
Something a person assumes to be true.
Speech Act Theory
Branch of pragmatics that suggests that when people communicate, they do not just say things, they also do things with their words. Speaking is acting. Meaning is context-dependent.
Meta Language
The language used to describe, analyse or explain another language.
Example: grammatical terms and rules of syntax.
Grice’s Conversational Implicature
‘It’s hot in here’ - meaning is reflexive. Recognising the speaker’s intention. For example, in this utterance the speaker may be implying for someone to open the window
Implying
Speaker generates some meaning beyond what is said (conventional or semantic meaning of words)
Inference
The inferred meaning derived by the hearer, which may or may not be the same as the speaker’s intended implicature.
Sentence
A well-formed string of words put together by the grammatical rules of language
Sentence Meaning
Meaning of a sentence regardless of context or knowledge of the world (its linguistic meaning) Normally belongs in Semantics
Utterance
Something that is said. They are contextually, culturally and/or socially conditioned.
Proposition
What is expressed by a declarative sentence when that sentence is used to make a statement, that is, to say something true of false about some state of affairs in the external world.
Propositional Content
A part of a sentences meaning that can be reduced to a proposition. Reducing a large proposition to something smaller (e.g., Brexit, reducing a long process to a single utterance “we are leaving the EU”) Basically what the utterance is about
Pragmatic Force
This term is used in Pragmatics to refer to the speaker’s communicative intention. “Is that what your wearing? - Could be a compliment, insult, a regular question etc… Impossible to tell without context
Malinowski’s Context of Situation
A statement, spoken in real life, is never detached from the situation in which it has been uttered. The utterance has no meaning except in the context of situation.
Context (Neutral Definition)
Any relevant features of the dynamic setting or environment in which a linguistic unit (section of language) is systematically used.
Physical Context
Refers to the physical setting of the utterance. “he’s not the chief executive; he is. He’s the managing director.”
Linguistic Context
What language proceeds or follows an utterance. The surrounding utterances in the same discourse (written or spoken communication)
General Knowledge Context
Otherwise known as ‘background’, ‘common sense’ ‘encyclopaedic knowledge’ and ‘real-world knowledge context’
Descriptive Fallacy (Speech Act Theory)
John Austin suggests that language can’t only just describe and state facts. There are utterances that create new facts or add no content.
Performative (Verb)
Acting or presenting yourself in a specific way so as to accomplish some goal. Perform actions e.g I promise to come to your talk tomorrow afternoon
Constative
Describes something as true or false. Make assertions/statements e.g My brother is called Corey
Explicit Performative
An utterance that contains a performative verb used in its performative sense
Implicit Performative
A speech act without a performative verb.
Felicity Conditions
Conditions that must be in place and the criteria that must be satisfied for a speech act to achieve its purpose
Locutionary Act
Production of a meaningful linguistic expression
Illocutionary Act
Action intended to be performed by the speaker
Perlocutionary Act
Thoughts and actions of the participants brought about the produced expression
Felicity Conditions For Promising
Propositional Content (What the utterance is about), Preparatory (Real world elements) Sincerity (Beliefs, feelings and intentions of the speaker) Essentiality (What is needed for the act to be performed)
Searle’s Classification of Speech Acts
- Assertive - Stating, Affirming, Describing, Suggesting, Boasting, Complaining, Claiming, Concluding, Deducting.
- Directive - Commanding, Requesting, Suggesting, Begging, Pleading, Inviting, Asking, Ordering
- Commissive - Promising, Threatening, Offering, Pledges, Vow, Refusals
- Expressive - Apologising, Thanking, Congratulating, Deploring, Condoling, Welcoming, Praising, Thanking
- Declaration - Naming, Baptising, Sentencing, Acquitting, Disqualifying, Excommunicating, Firing from employment, Nominating a candidate
Implicature
The hidden meaning that is conveyed by the speaker. Implicating is the more technical term; it is essentially all about meta language (language about language)
Implicate
When referring to communication meaning beyond stated words, we use the verb
Infer
When referring to recognizing the intended meaning beyond what is said we use the verb
Natural Meaning
Relates to the meaning that a particular sign has in virtue of its casual relations to other events. Not intended just a natural thing which can change a conversation (A cough can lead to a change of topic)
Non-Natural Meaning
Equates to the successful transmission of speaker intention. We rely on non-natural meaning mostly within conversation. Raising your hand in a classroom is non-natural because you’re purposefully intending to impact the flow of the conversation.
Generalised Conversational Implicature
Rely on contextual cues. Works across a variety of contexts e.g I sleep all the time doctor.
Particularised Conversational Implicature
Requires our first understanding of the immediate context of occurrence if we are to arrive at the correct inference
Grice’s Cooperative Principle
Contribute what is required to keep your conversation progressing so it meets both parties’ pragmatic objectives. This is not prescriptive; it is not telling us how to behave. It explains descriptively how we can arrive at implied meaning within conversation.
