Pragmatics Study of language use Relationship between context and meaning.

Context Situational context –Deixis Linguistic context –Anaphora Social context

Sentence The students are being really quiet today. Utterance => Stating an observation => Requesting participation => Requesting control

Cooperative Principle What we say is generally meant to further the purpose of the conversation. A: What do you do for a living? B: #I have a job. # vs * *I a job have.

Rules of Conversation Maxim of Quality Sally has two PhDs. #Sally has two PhDs, but I don’t believe she does. I don’t believe it! Sally really does have two PhDs.

Maxim of Quantity John has 4 children. A: How did Harry fare in court? B: Oh, he got a fine.

Maxim of Relevance A: Can you tell me the time? B: Yeah, it’s five to two. Inferences B: Sorry I don’t have a watch. B: The mailman just came. A:Is Gail dating anyone these days? B:Well, she goes to Cleveland every weekend.

Maxim of Manner unselective binding to license wh- indefinites  obscure wh-words like ‘who’ and ‘what’ mean ‘someone’ and ‘something’ in some languages.

The Lone Ranger jumped on his horse and rode into the sunset. #The Lone Ranger rode into the sunset and jumped on his horse.