Semantics & Pragmatics Flashcards
Polysemy
When a word is versatile
- has multiple related meanings
- often moves between literal & figurative contexts
It showcases how versatile language can be, encompassing creativity & nuance that captures our experiences with ourselves, each other, and the world.
Bright (intelligent vs bright yellow, bright light)
Why is it important for interpreters to understand polysemy?
As interpreters, it is imperative to connect to the connotation of a word (cultural association), not just the denotation (dictionary definition).
- If we only work on a word-level association during the interpretation process, it is easy to formulate interpretations that are missing substance
Idioms
- Expressions whose meaning stretches from the literal into the figurative
- May only be understood when married to the culture in which they are used.
- They are rooted in cultural backgrounds like folklore, traditional practices, historical context, regional dialects and more.
Homonymy
Refers to the same form that contains unrelated meanings.
Pragmatics
How context influences the interpretation of meaning
Key elements in the field of pragmatics:
- speaker intent
- speech acts
- implicature
- Grice’s maxims
- coherence and cohesion
- deixis
- turn-taking
Phrasal Ambiguity
Highlights how the organization of sentences can lead to multiple interpretations.
Example:
I saw the man with the telescope.
I used a telescope to see the man.
There is a man who has a telescope, and I saw him.
Why is it important for interpreters to understand phrasal ambiguity?
Without the proper context (and cultural insight) surrounding each utterance, the intended meaning is difficult if not impossible to interpret correctly.
Understanding the surrounding circumstances and the intent behind an utterance is crucial for interpreting phrases that contain ambiguity
As interpreters, it is essential
- to acknowledge the role of ambiguity in interactions
- to determine whether it is culturally or linguistically appropriate to clarify the meaning or to leave it intentionally vague
Grice’s Maxims
Implicit ‘rules’ that speakers are traditionally expected to cooperate by, in order to communicate effectively.
The four maxims of
Grice’s Cooperative Principle
- Quantity: Be as informative as possible, but not more so than is required.
- Quality: Be truthful, and do not say things that are false or not supported by evidence.
- Relation: Be relevant, and say things that are pertinent to the discussion.
- Manner: Be as clear, brief, and orderly as possible in what you say. Avoid obscurity and ambiguity.
Why is Grice’s 4th Maxim essential for communication and important for interpreters?
Grice’s fourth maxim emphasizes that striving for clarity is essential in communication, which is improtant for interpreters.
Being clear and concise in our communication allows others to better understand our intentions and engage in meangingful conversation.
Cohesion
Indicates the grammatical & lexical links that connect sentences and ideas within a text, ensuring that it flows smoothly
Cohesion Devices
These devices create a smooth flow and help ground the receiver.
Positioned at the beginning of an ASL utterance, cohesive devices can
- Orient the listener to factors such as time (e.g., YESTERDAY, LONG-AGO, RECENT)
- Indicate the frame of an utterance. Example: the sign HAPPEN signals a recall of an event, whereas the sign IMAGINE sets the stage for a hypothetical situation
- Serve as transitional elements, such as the sign UNDERSTAND, which often functions similarly to the English conjunction ‘but,’ indicating contrast or contradiction
Why are cohesion devices important for interpreters?
Distinguishes a muddled utterance from a clear and well-structured one
Coherence
- Relates to the overall clarity & logical organization of those ideas
- Allows the audience to easily grasp the intended message
Deixis
Refers to words & phrases that are contextually anchored, grounded in meaning only when the corresponding situation is understood
Person, Time, Place, Discourse Deixis
