Pinker's Theory of Indirect Speech Acts

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Questions and Answers

How should overt speech be judged in terms of intent certainty?

As uncertain with substantial variance

As certain in intent with negligible variance (correct)

As lossless in chains of gossip

As the last link in a chain of gossip

What is the basis for effective conversation, according to the text?

Using phonologically appropriate utterances

Constructing semantic ambiguities

Establishing a conflictual principle

The cooperative principle (correct)

In Pinker's Theory of Indirect Speech, how should indirect speech be perceived compared to direct innuendo?

As having lossless communication chains

As admitting of high uncertainty (correct)

As having negligible variance

As more certain than overt speech

How should conversations thrive, based on the information provided?

Through establishing a cooperative principle Signup and view all the answers

What level of confidence should the last link in a chain of gossip have in the speaker's intent?

High confidence Signup and view all the answers

How are pragmatic rules in conversation different from mere utterances matching phonological, syntactic, and semantic criteria?

They follow the Gricean Maxims of Cooperative Conversation Signup and view all the answers

What do women aim to achieve through their conversational strategies?

Minimize differences Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference in men's conversational goals compared to women's?

Men seek to assert independence Signup and view all the answers

What do men prefer to do in conversations to indicate higher status?

Inform Signup and view all the answers

How do women handle differences of opinion in conversations?

By avoiding any appearance of superiority Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aspect of the male partner's behavior in close relationships according to the text?

Informing the partner of plans Signup and view all the answers

How do women affirm the importance of a relationship according to the text?

By committing to the relationship Signup and view all the answers

What is the basic assumption of Pinker's Theory of Indirect Speech?

Communication is always a mixture of cooperation and conflict Signup and view all the answers

According to Pinker's Theory, what is the purpose of using indirect speech for plausible deniability?

To allow an uncooperative listener to reject the request without adversarial reaction Signup and view all the answers

Why might someone choose to use indirect language for relationship negotiation?

To avoid offending due to ambiguous relationship nature Signup and view all the answers

In Pinker's Theory, what role does language play in indirect communication?

Language can transmit messages with high fidelity even indirectly Signup and view all the answers

How does a mismatch in assumed relationship types influence the need for plausible deniability?

It can create a necessity for plausible deniability in indirect speech Signup and view all the answers

What makes an indirect request qualitatively different from a direct one according to Pinker's Theory?

The ability to create common knowledge through language Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Judging Overt Speech

Overt speech should be judged based on the speaker's intent certainty.
Effective conversation relies on a shared understanding of the intent behind utterances.

Pinker's Theory of Indirect Speech

In Pinker's Theory, indirect speech is interpreted as a form of innuendo with a degree of plausible deniability.
Indirect speech allows speakers to convey meaning without explicitly stating their intent.
Conversations thrive when participants can effectively interpret both direct and indirect speech.

Conversation & Pragmatic Rules

Pragmatic rules govern how meaning is conveyed and interpreted beyond literal meanings.
Conversations go beyond simply uttering grammatically correct sentences. It involves understanding the speaker's intent and social context.

Gender Differences in Conversation

Women's conversational strategies often aim to enhance connection and intimacy.
Men often use conversational strategies to establish dominance and maintain status.
Men may use boasting, competition, and interruption as tactics to signal higher status.
Women tend to handle differences of opinion by seeking consensus and avoiding conflict.

Relationship Dynamics & Conversations

Male partners in close relationships may exhibit less emotional sensitivity and struggle with emotional labor.
Women reaffirm the importance of relationships through nurturing, emotional support, and expressions of love.

Pinker's Theory & Indirect Communication

Pinker's theory proposes that indirect communication serves as a form of social negotiation.
Indirect speech offers plausible deniability, allowing speakers to avoid direct confrontation or potential conflict.
Indirect language can be used to signal intentions without fully committing to them, particularly in relationship negotiations.
Language acts as a tool for navigating social complexities and indirect communication plays a significant role in this process.
Mismatch in assumed relationship types can increase the need for plausible deniability.
An indirect request is qualitatively different from a direct request because it involves an implied request and leaves room for interpretation.

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Description

Explore the three-part theory of indirect speech according to Pinker, emphasizing communication as a blend of cooperation and conflict. Learn how indirect speech serves purposes like plausible deniability and relationship negotiation.