Pragmatics in Linguistics

Study Notes

Pragmatics

Study of how language is used in context to convey meaning
Focuses on the role of the speaker, listener, and situation in shaping meaning
Examines how speakers and listeners use language to achieve their goals and negotiate meaning
Key concepts:
- Implicature: the implied meaning that goes beyond the literal meaning of words
- Presupposition: the background knowledge or assumptions that speakers and listeners bring to a conversation
- Inference: the process of drawing conclusions based on language and context
- Speech acts: the actions performed by speakers when they use language, such as making a promise or giving an order

Study of meaning in language, focusing on the meaning of words, phrases, and sentences
Examines the relationships between words, concepts, and objects in the world
Key concepts:
- Sense: the meaning of a word or phrase in a particular context
- Reference: the relationship between a word or phrase and the object or concept it refers to
- Compositionality: the idea that the meaning of a sentence or phrase is derived from the meaning of its individual parts
- Truth conditions: the conditions under which a sentence or statement is true or false

Pragmatics focuses on the role of context and speaker intention in shaping meaning, while semantics focuses on the meaning of language in isolation from context
Pragmatics examines how language is used to achieve goals and negotiate meaning, while semantics examines the meaning of language as a system
Pragmatics is more concerned with the speaker's and listener's knowledge and intentions, while semantics is more concerned with the relationships between words and concepts

Examines how language is used in context to convey meaning, focusing on the role of speaker, listener, and situation in shaping meaning
Goals of pragmatics include understanding how speakers and listeners use language to achieve their goals and negotiate meaning
Key concepts in pragmatics:
- Implicature: implied meaning that goes beyond the literal meaning of words
- Presupposition: background knowledge or assumptions that speakers and listeners bring to a conversation
- Inference: process of drawing conclusions based on language and context
- Speech acts: actions performed by speakers when they use language, such as making a promise or giving an order

Examines the meaning of language, focusing on the meaning of words, phrases, and sentences
Goals of semantics include understanding the relationships between words, concepts, and objects in the world
Key concepts in semantics:
- Sense: meaning of a word or phrase in a particular context
- Reference: relationship between a word or phrase and the object or concept it refers to
- Compositionality: idea that the meaning of a sentence or phrase is derived from the meaning of its individual parts
- Truth conditions: conditions under which a sentence or statement is true or false

Pragmatics focuses on context and speaker intention, while semantics focuses on language in isolation from context
Pragmatics examines language use to achieve goals and negotiate meaning, while semantics examines language as a system
Pragmatics prioritizes speaker and listener knowledge and intentions, while semantics prioritizes relationships between words and concepts

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