2. Introduction
Pragmatics :
Pragmatics is the branch of linguistics
dealing with language in use and the
contexts in which it is used, including such
matters as deixis, the taking of turns in
conversation, text organization,
presupposition, and implicature.
3. Inference and presupposition
We infer the "total meaning" of an utterance based on all the
information we have available in the moment we hear it.
This includes past experiences, our knowledge about the person we
are communicating with, about the situation, about what was
previously said, what is deemed culturally appropriate and countless
other factors.
4. Presupposition
In everyday communication, speakers have a
number of presuppositions about the world-
knowledge of hearers.When someone addresses
you and says "Did you know that John and Mary
split up?" the speaker has the presupposition that
you know John and Mary and were aware of the fact
that they were previously a couple.
5. Pragmatic implicature and entailment
implicature is the process through which speakers include
meaning beyond the literal message in an utterance.
Example:
Bob: Are you coming to the party?
Jane: You know, I'm really busy
6. Entailment
Entailment is a related but distinct
phenomenon and it belongs in the realm of
semantics, because it is not affected by the
context.
8. Jane no longer writes fiction.
Presupposition: Jane once wrote fiction
Examples of presupposition
Have you stopped eating meat?
Presupposition: you had once eaten meat
9. CONCLUSION
It is conclude that presupposition and pragmatics is an implicit
assumption about the world or background belief relating to
an utterance whose truth is taken for granted in discourse. It is
very helpful in our learning and information for our students.
