Pragmatics: Definitions and Scope
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Questions and Answers

Pragmatics is “the investigation into that aspect of meaning which is derived not from the formal properties of words, but from the way in which ______ are used and how they relate to the context in which they are uttered.”

utterances

Pragmatics is “the study of meaning in relation to ______ situations”. The speech situation enables the speaker use language to achieve a particular effect on the mind of the hearer.”

speech

Pragmatics is “the study of those aspects of the relationship between language and context that are relevant to the writing of ______.”

grammars

Leech & Short (1981) - Pragmatics is “the investigation into that aspect of meaning which is derived not from the formal properties of words, but from the way in which ______ are used and how they relate to the context in which they are uttered.”

<p>utterances</p> Signup and view all the answers

Leech (1983) - Pragmatics is “the study of meaning in relation to ______ situations”. The speech situation enables the speaker use language to achieve a particular effect on the mind of the hearer.”

<p>speech</p> Signup and view all the answers

Levinson (1983) – Pragmatics is “the study of those aspects of the relationship between language and context that are relevant to the writing of ______.”

<p>grammars</p> Signup and view all the answers

Pragmatics is “the study of intended speaker ______.”

<p>meaning</p> Signup and view all the answers

Language use focuses on language in actual ______ situations.

<p>speech</p> Signup and view all the answers

Pragmatics analysts seek to explain what communicators actually “do” with ______.

<p>language</p> Signup and view all the answers

Participants in a conversation/discourse situation, their roles, relationship, and identities have some influence on how meanings are ______ and interpreted.

<p>encoded</p> Signup and view all the answers

Interactants do not rely only on their knowledge of the language system when they interpret meaning but also their knowledge of the ______, cultures, conventions or world view.

<p>world</p> Signup and view all the answers

In stressing utterances in communication rather than structural sentences, a pragmatics analyst seeks to explain what communicators actually “do” with ______.

<p>language</p> Signup and view all the answers

Jide seemingly asks two ______: “what’s up.” and “do you have some change on you.”

<p>questions</p> Signup and view all the answers

Mark immediately understands that Jide is not asking a yes or no question, rather a request for money to pay his taxi fare, so he gives an ______ answer.

<p>explanatory</p> Signup and view all the answers

“What’s up” is a form of greeting rather than a ______.

<p>question</p> Signup and view all the answers

Jide right assumed that mark would interpret his “questions” ______.

<p>correctly</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Definition of Pragmatics

  • Pragmatics is the investigation into the aspect of meaning derived from the way words are used and how they relate to the context in which they are uttered.
  • Pragmatics is the study of meaning in relation to speech situations.
  • Pragmatics is the study of those aspects of the relationship between language and context that are relevant to the writing of utterances.

Key Concepts

  • Language use focuses on language in actual speech situations.
  • Pragmatics analysts seek to explain what communicators actually “do” with language.
  • Participants in a conversation/discourse situation, their roles, relationship, and identities influence how meanings are constructed and interpreted.

Contextual Factors

  • Interactants rely on their knowledge of the context, cultures, conventions, or world view to interpret meaning.
  • Knowledge of the language system is not enough to interpret meaning, contextual knowledge is also necessary.

Example of Pragmatics in Action

  • Jide's questions "what's up" and "do you have some change on you" are not meant to be taken literally, but as a request for money.
  • Mark immediately understands the intention behind Jide's "questions" and gives a relevant answer.
  • "What's up" is a form of greeting rather than a question.
  • Jide rightly assumed that Mark would interpret his "questions" correctly.

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Description

Explore the nature, principles, and scope of pragmatics with this quiz. Learn about different definitions of pragmatics according to language scholars like Leech & Short (1981) and deepen your understanding of this aspect of meaning.

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