PRAGMATICS

Pragmatics is a branch of linguistics that deals with the study of language in use, particularly how context influences the interpretation of meaning. It focuses on how people use language to communicate effectively and how meaning is conveyed beyond the literal words and grammar of a sentence. Pragmatics explores how speakers use language to achieve specific goals, how listeners interpret meaning based on context, and how both parties cooperate in conversation.

Key aspects of pragmatics include:

Implicature

Implicature refers to the implied meaning that arises from context when a speaker doesn't explicitly state something. This can involve conversational implicature, where the listener infers meaning based on the speaker's intention and the context.

Presupposition

Presupposition is the assumption that the speaker expects the listener to accept or know before interpreting the utterance. It's the information that is taken for granted and forms the background for meaningful communication.

Speech Acts

Pragmatics studies how sentences can perform various functions beyond conveying information. Utterances can also be used to make requests, give orders, ask questions, offer apologies, and more. These actions performed through language are known as speech acts.

Deixis

Deixis refers to words or expressions that depend on the context of the conversation for their interpretation. Pronouns (like "he," "she," "this," "that") and expressions of time and place ("now," "here") are examples of deictic elements.

Politeness

Pragmatics delves into how politeness is conveyed through language, such as using indirect requests, mitigating language, and choosing appropriate forms of address.

Relevance Theory

Relevance theory posits that communication is driven by a search for relevant information. Speakers aim to provide enough information for the listener to infer the intended meaning, and listeners actively process information to derive relevance from the utterance.

Context

Pragmatics emphasizes the importance of context in understanding meaning. Context includes the physical, social, cultural, and linguistic factors that influence how language is used and interpreted.

In essence, pragmatics helps explain why people don't always say exactly what they mean and why understanding meaning goes beyond the literal sense of words. It provides insights into how language users navigate the complexities of communication to convey intentions, emotions, and social relationships effectively.

@eslinpk

~  ~  ~