Pragmatics Flashcards
The study of the “invisible” meaning/ how we recognize what is meant even when it’s not actually said or written.
Pragmatics
The set of other words used in the same phrase or sentence.
‘She has to go the bank to withdraw some cash. ‘
Linguistic Context
We can interpret the meaning of words on the basis of the physical context.
Physical Context
the use of general words and phrases to refer to a specific time, place, or person in context, e.g., the words tomorrow, there, and they.
Dexis
An act by which a speaker (or writer) uses language to enable a listener (or reader) to identify something.
Reference
Additional information used by the listener to create a connection between what is said and what must be meant.
Inference
What a speaker or writer assumes is true or known by a listener or speaker
Presupposition
The action performed by a speaker with an utterance.
Speech acts
for example, when we use an interrogative structure (e.g., Did you…?) with the function of a question/ i.e., we don’t know something, and we are asking someone to provide information.
Direct speech acts
for example, when we use the interrogative structure, but we are not really asking for information/ we use it to make a request.
Can you pass the salt?
You left the door open.
Indirect speech acts
Is your public self-image.
Face (pragmatics)
showing awareness and consideration of another person’s face.
politeness
behaving as if you have more social power than the other person.
Give me that paper!
Face-threatning act
when you say something that lessens the possible threat to another’s face.
Could you pass me that paper?
Face-saving act.
The need to be independent and free from imposition/show concern about imposition.
Negative (pragmatics)
