PRAGMATICSThe Study of Language Use

PragmaticsA subfield of linguistics which studies how people use language within a CONTEXT and why they use language in particular ways

Context fills in the details and allows full understanding

Consider the word “BALL” in the following sentences:He kicked the ball into the net.She dribbled the ball down the court and shot

a basket.She putted the ball from two feet away.His racket missed the ball by mere inches.The ball rocketed across the alley and took

down all ten pins.

ContextThe discourse that surrounds a language unit and helps to determine its interpretation

Subparts of Context1. Physical Context

- Where the conversation takes place- What objects are present- What actions are taking place

2. Epistemic Context- Background knowledge shared by speakers and

hearers

3. Linguistic Context- Utterances previous to the utterance

4. Social Context- Social relationship and setting of speakers and

hearers

Speech ActsThe use of language to perform some act

Speech ActsSentence Type

Speech Act Function Example

Declarative Assertion Conveys information,Is true or false

John Jones has bad breath.

Interrogative Question Elicits information

Who ate my porridge?

Imperative Order Causes others to behave in certain ways

Leave me alone.

Request Please leave me alone.Other speech acts include:

• Threats• Warnings• Bets• Advises• Promises

Performative VerbsVerbs that can be used to perform the acts they name

1. I assert that John Jones has bad breath.2. I ask who ate my porridge.3. I order you to leave me alone.4. I request that you leave me alone.5. I threaten you that if you do that again, I’ll punch

you.6. I warn that there is a gremlin at the back of your car.7. I bet you five bucks that they will win tonight.8. I advise you to go to class at least once a quarter.9. I promise to pass the requirement tomorrow.

Direct and Indirect Speech ActsDirect Speech Act Indirect Speech ActThey perform their

functions in a direct and literal manner

Can be performed by:A. Making a direct, literal

utterance, orB. Using a performative

verb

What the speaker actually means is different from what s/he literally says.

Never uses performative verbs

To perform a particular speech act indirectly, one

need only formulate a question, assertion,

request, or order that evokes a felicity condition

on that speech act.

Felicity ConditionsConditions that must be satisfied if a speech act is to be correctly and honestly performed

Question Felicity ConditionsS questions H about P:

1. S does not know the truth about P.2. S wants to know the truth about P.3. S believes that H may be able to supply the

information about P that S wants.

Where: S is the Speaker, H is the Hearer, and P is some state of affairs

ExampleDirect Speech Act Indirect Speech ActDid John marry Helen?I ask you whether or not

John marry Helen.

I don’t know if John married Helen. (S does not know the truth about P)

I would like to know if John married Helen. (S wants to know the truth about P)

Do you know if John married Helen? (S believes that H may be able to supply the information about P that S wants)

Request Felicity ConditionsS requests H to do A:

1. S believes A has not yet been done.2. S believes that H is able to do A.3. S believes that H is willing to do A-type things

for S.4. S wants A to be done.

Where: S is the Speaker, H is the Hearer, and A is some action

ExampleDirect Speech Act Indirect Speech ActPlease take out the

garbage.I request that you take

out the garbage.

The garbage isn’t out yet. (S believes A has not yet been done)

Could you take out the garbage? (S believes that H is able to do A)

Would you mind taking out the garbage? (S believes that H is willing to do A-type things for S)

I would like for you to take out the garbage. (S wants A to be done)

Promise Felicity ConditionsS promises H to do A

1. S believes that H wants A done.2. S is able to A.3. S is willing to do A.4. A has not already been done.

Where: S is the Speaker, H is the Hearer, and A is some action

ExampleDirect Speech Act Indirect Speech Act I will buy you a doll

tomorrow. I promise to buy you a doll

tomorrow.

Would you like a doll tomorrow? (S believes that H wants A done)

I can buy you a doll tomorrow. (S is able to A)

I would love to buy you a doll. (S is willing to do A)

I still haven’t bought you a doll, have I? (A has not already been done)

Threat Felicity ConditionsS promises H to do A

1. S believes that H does not want A done.2. S is able to A.3. S is willing to do A.4. A has not already been done.

Where: S is the Speaker, H is the Hearer, and A is some action

ExampleDirect Speech Act Indirect Speech ActIf you do that again, I’ll

punch you.I threaten you that if

you do that again, I’ll punch you.

You don’t want me to punch you, do you? (S believes that H does not want A done)

I can punch you, y’ know. (S is able to A)

I wouldn't mind punching you. (S is willing to do A)

Seems your face is not yet bruised, eh? (A has not already been done)

Rules of ConversationA set of conventions governing language use that preserves it integrity by requiring us, among other things, to be honest in its use, to have evidence for what we say, and to make what we say relevant to the speech context

H.P. Grice’s Cooperative PrincipleWe are enjoined to make sure that what we

say in conversation furthers the purposes of these conversations.

Maxims of Quality1. Do not say what you believe is false.2. Do not say that for which you lack adequate

evidence.

Maxim of Relation/Relevance1. Be relevant.

Maxims of Quantity1. Make your contribution as informative as

required.2. Do not make your contribution more

informative than required.

Maxims of Manner1. Avoid obscurity of expression.2. Avoid ambiguity.3. Be brief.4. Be orderly.

Language in AdvertisingAdvertising is a business in which language is used to persuade people to do things (e.g. to buy some product, to vote for someone, or to believe things)

EntailmentLogically valid inferenceIf sentence X entails sentence Y, then

whenever X is true Y must also be true

ExampleA. Ian drives a Corvette.B. Ian drives a car.

A entails B because B is true when A is true as all Corvettes are cars.

B cannot entail A because A can be false when B is true as not all cars are Corvettes.

Ian drives a Corvette. True

Ian drives a car. True

Ian drives a car. True

Ian drives a Corvette. False

ImplicatureNot logically valid but is nevertheless

warrantedSentence X implicates sentence Y if:

X does not entail YThe speaker is warranted in believing that Y is

true based on the meaning of X and Grice’s Maxims of Conversation.

ExampleA. Not everyone is going to come.B. Someone is going to come.

A implicates B because: A does not entail B

B can be false when A is true Assuming that the speaker of A makes his

contribution as informative as required (1st Maxim of Quantity), the more informative claim “no one is going to come” was not used because it was not known to be true. Thus the hearer of A is justified in believing that B is true.

Leaving out of the than phraseCampbell soups have one-third less salt.Ford LTD was 700 percent quieter.More people sleep on Sealy PosturpedicThe cars more Americans depend on.Maytags are built to last longer and need

fewer repairs.

Fine PrintFly anywhere Delta Airline goes.

Fine Print: Some restrictions apply.Our UPS Next Day Air Letter. Guaranteed

overnight delivery to any address from coast to coast.Fine Print: See Air Service Guide for Guarantee

Details.Le Sabre is the most trouble-free American

car.Fine Print: Owner-related problems during the

first 90 days of ownership.

Idiomatic LanguageMercedes-Benz cars: engineered like no other

car in the world.In one out of two American homes you’ll find

Kenmore appliances.

Modal Auxiliaries or AdverbsIt may be one of the most powerful cars in the

world.It could save you up to 15% on Allstate

homeowners insurance.If you choose to finance or lease your new

GMAC vehicle someplace other than GMAC, you might find yourself waiting in line instead of out hugging one.

It leaves clothes virtually static-free.

Discourse AnalysisAnalysis on how meaning is created as people tell personal experience stories using narrations

Example1) This is about a good-looking guy that made me a bit

embarrassed of myself2) It happened to me last semester before summer3) Early morning, I rode a jeep on the way to school4) Uh. It was –uh- really cold and –uh- cold5) I was still sleepy but when I looked around the jeep the

guy in front of me was so cute, not just cute –uh- gorgeous is more fitting

6) Another man said, “Para,” and –uh- and he was like –uh- preparing to go out of the jeep.

7) And so, while the gorgeous guy was fixing his bag –uh- 8) I winked and smiled at him9) It was like so brave and stupid of me.

Example10)I was waiting for him to get up and leave, but

guess what,11)He didn’t, that gorgeous guy looked at me like

he was creeped out.12)When I left the jeep, he was right behind me…

walking…gosh…13)Until I reached a corner, and he was gone, it

was still so embarrassing…14)I realized that I shoulda ‘never’ –uh- do that

again unless I’m sure that I won’t see him after the winking ever.

Elements of Narration1. Abstract

One or more clauses that summarizes the story

2. Orientation Free clauses that provide relevant details

about the background of the story

3. Complicating Action Part of the story that answers : “Then what

happened?”

4. Result or Resolution Tells what finally happened

Elements of Narration5. Coda

Brings the hearer back out of the world of the story and into the present

6. Evaluation Linguistic strategies a storyteller can use to

underscore the fact that his/her story has a point

External – phrases and clauses that interrupt the narrative, thereby creating suspense

Internal – intensifiers, comparators, and modifiers

aY0uwHn lNg pOewsz, ..tHnxuEsz..,Eye Infection

Sam, Coltz ت, Luigi, Tammy, AnggeBLL 101 JX

Ma’am Caguicla ♥