Pragmatics

Definition

Pragmatics is the study of how language is used in real-world contexts and how speakers convey meaning beyond the literal interpretation of words. It examines how the context, both linguistic and non-linguistic, influences the way language is used and understood.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Pragmatics focuses on the intended meaning of an utterance, rather than just the literal meaning of the words used.
2. Context, including the social, cultural, and situational factors, plays a crucial role in how language is interpreted and understood in pragmatics.
3. Pragmatics examines how speakers use language strategically to achieve specific communicative goals, such as making requests, giving commands, or expressing politeness.
4. Pragmatics considers the role of non-verbal communication, such as body language and tone of voice, in conveying meaning.
5. Pragmatic competence, the ability to use language appropriately in different social and cultural contexts, is an important aspect of communicative competence.

Review Questions

• Explain how pragmatics relates to the study of language and the mind (Topic 6.2).
  • Pragmatics is closely linked to the study of language and the mind (Topic 6.2) because it examines how the cognitive processes involved in language use, such as inference, context-dependent interpretation, and strategic communication, shape the way we understand and produce language in real-world situations. Pragmatics explores how the mental representations and cognitive mechanisms underlying language use influence the ways in which we convey and interpret meaning beyond the literal level.
• Describe the role of pragmatics in understanding language, community, and culture (Topic 6.3).
  • Pragmatics is essential for understanding the relationship between language, community, and culture (Topic 6.3) because it focuses on how language is used within specific social and cultural contexts. Pragmatics examines how cultural norms, social conventions, and community-specific communicative practices shape the way language is used and understood. It explores how speakers navigate these contextual factors to achieve their communicative goals and maintain social relationships within their communities.
• Analyze how pragmatics can inform our understanding of the relationship between language, thought, and behavior.
  • Pragmatics can inform our understanding of the relationship between language, thought, and behavior by revealing how the cognitive processes involved in language use, such as inference, perspective-taking, and strategic communication, are influenced by and, in turn, influence our thought patterns and social behaviors. Pragmatics explores how the ways in which we use language to convey meaning and achieve communicative goals are shaped by our mental representations, cultural beliefs, and social norms, and how these linguistic practices can then shape our cognition and behavior within specific contexts.

Related terms

Semantics: The study of the literal, dictionary meanings of words and how they combine to form meaningful expressions.

Syntax: The study of the rules governing the structure of sentences and the relationships between the different parts of a sentence.

Discourse Analysis: The study of how language is used in extended texts or conversations to convey meaning and achieve communicative goals.