Pragmatics

Pragmatics n Pragmatics studies how human communication functions.

Pragmatics n The problem is: how does this process of human interaction function? –And n What is successful linguistic communication

Pragmatics n The Message Model of Communication

Pragmatics –Message is encoded by speaker –Message is carried through sounds –Message is decoded by hearer

Pragmatics n The Message Model of Communication –Message is encoded by speaker –Message is carried through sounds –Message is decoded by hearer n Problems with the message model:

Pragmatics n The Message Model of Communication –Message is encoded by speaker –Message is carried through sounds –Message is decoded by hearer n Problems with the message model: –Does not immediately answer the problem of ambiguity.

Pragmatics n The Message Model of Communication –Message is encoded by speaker –Message is carried through sounds –Message is decoded by hearer n Problems with the message model: –Does not immediately answer the problem of ambiguity. –Thus, it is dependent on contextual cues. n Flying planes can be dangerous.

Pragmatics –The underdetermination of reference: n An utterance can refer to more than one thing: “A shrewd politician” could mean Winston Churchil or Richard Nixon or any number of other people. –The underdetermination of communicative intent n I’ll be there tonight –a promise –a predicion –or a threat

Pragmatics –Nonliterally n Sarcasm, metaphor –Oh, that’s just great –Indirection n We sometimes mean to communicate more than our sentences mean. –My car has a flat tire –(to the gas station attendant) –(to the investigating officer)

Pragmatics –Non-communicative acts

Pragmatics n Speech acts of social significance (institutional acts): –Baptism (the baby cannot decode the message, although he is the one whose social status is changed.) –Perlocutionary acts: attemtps to impress, deceive or persuade which may not do so, since the hearer is expecting them.

Pragmatics n Inferential Approach

Pragmatics –Linguistic communication is successful if the hearer recognizes the speaker’s communicative intention. Linguistic communication works because the speaker and hearer share a system of inferential strategies leading from the utterances of an expression to the hearers recognition of the speaker’s communicative intent.

Pragmatics n Inferential Approach –The Inferential Approach presumes the following: –Linguistic Presumption (LP): it is assumed that the hearer can determine meaning. –Communicative Presumtion (CP): it is assumed that the speaker is speaking to someone with some intent

Pragmatics n Inferential Approach –Presumption of Literalness (PL): it is assumed that the speaker means what he says

Pragmatics n Inferential Approach –Presumption of Literalness (PL): it is assumed that the speaker means what he says –Conversational Presumptions (ConPs)

Pragmatics n Inferential Approach –Presumption of Literalness (PL): it is assumed that the speaker means what he says –Conversational Presumptions (ConPs) n Relevance - remarks are relevant n Sincerity - speakers is being sincere n Truthfulness - speakers is attempting to say something true n Quantity - there is enough information n Quality - speaker has adequate info.

Pragmatics n Inferential Approach –Direct Strategy to Communication

Pragmatics n Inferential Approach –Direct Strategy to Communication n Step 1 - Utterance act, the hearer recognizes what the speaker has uttered.

Pragmatics n Inferential Approach –Direct Strategy to Communication n Step 1 - Utterance act, the hearer recognizes what the speaker has uttered. n Step 2 - Operative meaning, the hearer recognizes which meaning of the expression is intended.

Pragmatics n Inferential Approach –Direct Strategy to Communication n Step 1 - Utterance act, the hearer recognizes what the speaker has uttered. n Step 2 - Operative meaning, the hearer recognizes which meaning of the expression is intended. n Step 3 - Speaker reference, the hearer recognizes what the speaker is referring to.

Pragmatics n Inferential Approach –Direct Strategy to Communication n Step 4 - Direct, the hearer recognizes what the speaker is intending to communicate directly

Pragmatics n Inferential Approach –Literal Strategy

Pragmatics n Inferential Approach –Literal Strategy n Step 5 - Contextual appropriateness, the hearer recognizes that it would be contextually appropriate for the speaker to be speaking literally.

Pragmatics n Inferential Approach –Literal Strategy n Step 5 - Contextual appropriateness, the hearer recognizes that it would be contextually appropriate for the speaker to be speaking literally. n Step 6 - Literal, the hearer recognizes what the speakers is intending to communicate literally and directly.