Intro to Pragmatics

1. INTROCUTION TO
PRAGMATICS
Mr. LAL BAKHSH SOOMRO

2. Agenda
Etymology of word Pragmatics
Brief History of Pragmatics
Introduction to Pragmatics (Definitions)
Basic Concepts in Pragmatics
Comparison with Syntax and Semantics
Meaning Making Process
Discussion
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3. Etymology
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4. History
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5. Understanding its Origin
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6. Introduction to Pragmatics
“Pragmatics is the study of the effect of context on meaning”.
“It includes the study of how people use language to
establish their identities through social meaning, to express
their emotions through affective meaning, to perform speech
acts with performative sentences, and to carry on
conversations with others.”
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7. Some More Definitions
Pragmatics is the study of speaker meaning.
Pragmatics is the study of contextual meaning.
Pragmatics is the study of how more gets communicated
than is said.
Pragmatics is the study of the expression of relative
distance.
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8. Comparison with Semantics &
Synatx
Syntax is the study of the
relationships between
linguistic forms.
How they are arranged in
sequence, and which
sequences are well-
formed.
This type of study
generally takes place
without considering any
world of reference or
any user of the forms.
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Semantics is the study of
the relationships between
linguistic forms and
entities in the world; that
is, how words literally
connect to things.
Semantic analysis also
attempts to establish the
relationships between
verbal descriptions and
states of affairs in the
world as accurate (true)
or not, regardless of who
produces that description.
Syntax Semantics
Pragmatics is the study of
the relationships between
linguistic forms and the
users of those forms. In
this three-part distinction,
only pragmatics allows
humans into the
analysis.
Pragmatics
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10. Basic Concepts in Pragmatics
1. Speech Acts 2. Implicature
3. Politeness Theory 4. Conversational Maxims
5. Presupposition 6. Deixis
7. Speech Acts Theory 8. Gricean Implicature
9. Pragmatic Competence 10. Contextualization Cue
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11. Meaning Making Process in
Prgamatics
1. Context Establishment:
- Understanding the situational, cultural, and linguistic context in which communication occurs.
- Considering factors such as the participants' background, relationship, setting, and shared
knowledge.
2. Speaker Intention:
- Inferring the speaker's intention behind the utterance.
- Recognizing whether the speaker is making a request, giving information, expressing an
emotion, etc.
- Understanding illocutionary acts (speech acts) such as requests, promises, apologies, etc.
3. Listener Inference:
- Interpreting the meaning of the utterance based on the context and the speaker's intention.
Making inferences about implied meanings, implicatures, and presuppositions.
- Recognizing indirect speech acts and understanding their intended meaning.
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12. Continue….
4. Pragmatic Principles:
- Applying pragmatic principles such as the cooperative principle, Gricean maxims (quality,
quantity, relation, manner), and politeness strategies.
- Considering conversational implicature, where meaning goes beyond the literal interpretation of
words.
5. Contextual Adjustments:
- Adapting communication strategies based on the ongoing interaction and feedback from the
interlocutors.
- Adjusting language use to maintain relevance, clarity, and appropriateness within the context.
6. Shared Understanding:
- Achieving mutual understanding between the speaker and listener(s).
- Resolving ambiguity and clarifying misunderstandings through negotiation and clarification
strategies.
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13. Continue….
7. Cultural Factors:
- Considering cultural norms, conventions, and socio-pragmatic rules that influence
communication.
- Recognizing cultural differences in politeness, indirectness, and conversational styles.
8. Feedback and Repair:
- Providing feedback to ensure that the intended meaning aligns with the interpreted meaning.
- Repairing communication breakdowns through clarification, repetition, or rephrasing.
9. Pragmatic Competence:
- Developing pragmatic competence, which involves the ability to use language appropriately in
various social contexts.
10. Dynamic Nature:
- Understanding that meaning-making in pragmatics is dynamic and context-dependent.
- Recognizing shifts in meaning based on changes in context, participants, or communicative
goals.
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14. Floor is Open
for Discussion &
Questions!

15. Thank you!