Pragmatics Flashcards
(13 cards)
What are pragmatics?
How language meaning is affected by the context it is in.
What is the 3 stage model?
- Find the literal meaning
- Is it sensible in the context?
- If not, infer a figurative meaning
Always compute the literal meaning before the figurative meaning
What is Grice’s cooperative principle?
People are able to communicate because they agree to cooperate
We follow the same set of rules in conversation
What are Grice’s 4 maxims for cooperative speakers?
- Quantity
- Quality
- Manner
- Relevance
What is the Quantity maxim?
Make your contribution as informative as required
Do not make your contribution more informative than required
What is the Quality maxim?
Do not say anything that you believe to be false
Do not say anything that you lack evidence for
What is the Manner maxim?
Do not be obscure
Do not be ambiguous
Be brief
Be orderly
What is the relevance maxim?
Be relevant
Why would anyone violate the Maxim
Speed
Politeness
More powerful
What are some weaknesses for 3 stage model?
Extra stage for figurative meaning means slower comprehension
Gibbs 1979 study
What was Gibbs (1979) reading time study?
Had both indirect and direct requests placed either isolated or at the end of a paragraph and in context.
Found that the isolated requests had longer reading times for indirect requests
However, for requests made in context, there was no difference between direct and indirect.
Evidence against 3 stage model.
What is Metonymy?
The use of the name of one thing to refer to another thing that it is associated with.
Eg Putin invaded Ukraine
Shakespeare is on the top shelf
