Lecturer: Ms. Abrar A. Mujaddidi P RAGMATICS

W HAT IS PRAGMATICS ?  Try to figure out the meaning of the following dialogue:  A: I have a fourteen year-old son B: That’s alright C: I have a dog too D: Oh, I’m sorry  The study of intended meaning by the speaker is called ‘pragmatics’.

I NVISIBLE MEANING  Somehow, pragmatics is the study of invisble meaning.  How do we recognize the intended meaning of the speaker or the writer, even if it is not actually said or written?  To achieve that, we must be able to depend on the shared assumptions or expectations between the speaker and the listener.

CONT.,  Consider the following example:  Babies and toddlers for sale  You see the meanings of the words in combination, and the context in which they occur, and you try to arrive at the intended meaning of the writer or the speaker.  The intended meaning of the speaker or the writer is a crucial element!

C ONTEXT Also known as the co-text It is the set of other words used in the same phrase or sentence. Affects the choice of meaning we make for each word. (e.g. the word bank) Linguistic context The time and place in which we encounter linguistic expressions Again consider the physical context of the word ’bank’ Physical context

D EIXIS  Deictic expressions: There are words that cannot be interpreted at all unless the physical context, especially the context of the speaker is known. Consider the following  You will have to bring that tomorrow, because they are not here right now. here there thatyou they

C ONT., Me, you, him….etc. Person deixis Here, there, ….etc. Place deixis Now, then, next week…etc. Time deixis Types of deictic expressions

R EFERENCE  Reference is an act by which a speaker ( or writer) uses language to enable a listener ( or a reader) to identify something.  Mr. Kawasaki  Ms. Salad  An inference is any additional information used bny the listener to connect to what must be meant.  I saw Shakespeare in London

A NAPHORA antecedent Can I use your book? Anaphora Yeah it’s on the table

C ONT.,  Anaphora can be defined as a subsequent reference to an already introduced entity.  We use it to maintain reference.  What about:  I was waiting for the bus, but he just drove by???  Inference!!!

P RESUPPOSITION  Speakers continually design their linguistic messages on the basis of assumptions of what their hearers already know.  What the speaker assumes is true to be known by the hearer can be described as a presupposition.  When did you stop smoking?  When did she get divorced?

S PEECH ACTS  The use of the term ‘sppech acts’ covers actions such as: requestingcommanding questioninginforming

Direct speech acts When a form is used to perform its real purpose Is your sister married> Indirect speech act When a form is used to perform a function other than the one originally assigned for it Can you pass the salt You left the door open!

C ONT.,  Indirect speech acts are usually considered as more polite or more gentle.  This leads us to consider the idea of ‘politeness’ in linguistics.

P OLITENESS  In linguistics, politeness referes to the concept of ‘face’. Public self-image Face

C ONT., Politeness: Showing awareness of another person’s face Face –threatening act Saying something that represents a threat to another person’s self- image Give me that paper! Face-saving act When you say something that lessens the possible threat to another’s face Could you please pass me that paper?

C ONT., Negative face Your need to be independent and be free from imposition I’m sorry to bother you.. Positive face Your need to be connected and to belong Let’s do that together!

Thank you!!