19 Questions
Pragmatic factors influence only the choice of words, not the tone of voice.
False
An utterance like 'He is cute!' can be pragmatically inappropriate when talking about one's subordinate.
True
Poets, song-writers, and novelists are not interested in how words can evoke associative meaning.
False
Situational context does not influence interactions, according to the text.
False
'John means well' implies that John intends to cause harm.
False
'The red flag means danger' suggests that the red flag has intentions to endanger someone.
False
'Smoke means fire' implies that 'smoke' and 'the red flag' are natural signs of something else.
True
'Dan means trouble' can only be interpreted in one way as it is a clear sentence.
False
An idiom is a phrase that is unique to a particular individual.
False
Semantics prescribes what meanings words shall have and what they may be used for.
False
If basic semantic facts do not apply to your dialect, it means your dialect is wrong.
False
Semantics is solely focused on setting up a theory of meaning.
False
Linguistics as a whole primarily concentrates on the differences between languages.
False
Modern semanticists study areas of meaning that were unknown to Aristotle.
True
It is assumed that modern theories of meaning are inferior to Aristotle's.
False
Semantics is comparable to a physical science like geography.
False
Semanticists have no advantages or disadvantages compared to students of other subjects.
False
Poets, song-writers, and novelists are not concerned with how words evoke associative meanings.
False
Pragmatic factors only influence the tone of voice, not the choice of words.
False
Study Notes
Meaning and Language
- Pragmatic factors influence the choice of words, not the tone of voice.
- Utterances can be pragmatically inappropriate depending on the situational context, e.g., saying "He is cute!" about a subordinate.
Semantics and Meaning
- Semantics does not prescribe what meanings words shall have or how they may be used for; it clarifies meaning.
- Basic semantic facts apply universally, regardless of dialect; if they don't apply, it's not the dialect that's wrong, but the understanding of semantics.
- Semantics focuses on understanding meaning, not setting up a theory of meaning.
Linguistics and Comparisons
- Linguistics encompasses the study of languages, including their differences.
- Modern semanticists explore areas of meaning unknown to Aristotle, and their theories are not inferior.
- Semantics is comparable to a social science, not a physical science like geography.
- Students of semantics have equal advantages and disadvantages compared to students of other subjects.
Idioms and Associative Meaning
- Idioms are not unique to individuals, but are fixed phrases with specific meanings.
- Poets, song-writers, and novelists are concerned with how words evoke associative meanings.
Explore the study of speaker meaning and how pragmatic factors influence linguistic and nonlinguistic choices. Learn about pragmatic errors and their impact on communication, as well as the relevance of pragmatics in literary works.
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