Pragmatics and Current research on Language use and social interactions Flashcards
What are speech acts according to Bach (2006)?
Speech acts are communicative actions performed through the use of language, such as making statements, giving commands, asking questions, or making promises.
What are the three types of speech acts identified by John Searle, as discussed by Bach (2006)?
The three types are locutionary acts (the act of saying something), illocutionary acts (the act performed in saying something, such as asserting or questioning), and perlocutionary acts (the effects achieved by saying something, such as persuading or frightening).
How does Bach (2006) describe the relationship between semantics and pragmatics?
Bach describes semantics as the study of meaning in language, while pragmatics deals with the use of language in context and how context influences interpretation.
What is the concept of “illocutionary force” in speech act theory?
Illocutionary force refers to the speaker’s intention behind the utterance, such as asserting, questioning, commanding, or promising.
What role does context play in the interpretation of speech acts according to Bach (2006)?
Context is crucial for interpreting speech acts as it provides the background information needed to understand the speaker’s intention and the meaning of the utterance.
: Can you give an example of an indirect speech act as discussed by Bach (2006)?
An indirect speech act occurs when the literal meaning of the utterance differs from its intended meaning, such as saying “Can you pass the salt?” to make a request rather than asking about the listener’s ability.
What is the distinction between explicit and implicit performatives in speech act theory?
Explicit performatives clearly state the action being performed (e.g., “I apologize”), while implicit performatives imply the action without explicitly stating it (e.g., “I’m sorry” implying an apology).
How does Bach (2006) address the issue of how speech acts can fail?
Speech acts can fail if the necessary conditions for their success are not met, such as the speaker lacking the authority to perform the act or the listener not recognizing the intended illocutionary force.
What is the significance of Austin’s concept of “performatives” in the study of speech acts?
Austin’s concept of performatives introduced the idea that uttering a sentence can constitute performing an action, not just describing one, laying the groundwork for speech act theory.
What are “felicity conditions” in the context of speech acts?
Felicity conditions are the specific circumstances that must be met for a speech act to be successfully performed, including factors like the speaker’s intentions, the conventional procedure, and the appropriate context.
How does Bach (2006) differentiate between conventional and conversational implicature?
Conventional implicature is meaning derived from the conventional meanings of words or phrases, while conversational implicature arises from the context and the principles of cooperative communication, such as Grice’s maxims.
