CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Problem

The discussion of human is a thing really interested to talk about. It is caused
some of people not only giving information when they speak. People also have
difficulties to understand and express their meaning when they are communicating
by both speaking or writing. Linguists have thought this, and there are two ways
how to know people's meaning. First, it can be by semantics and second it can be
by pragmatics. Semantics and pragmatics are branches of linguistics that are
concerned about meaning. But, they are not same in some ways. Because of that,
this paper will discuss about both semantics and pragmatics. We will discuss what
are their differences, and how their roles in communicating.

B. Problem Formulation
1. What are the definitions of semantics and pragmatics?
2. What are the similarities and differences between semantics and pragmatics?
3. How are the examples of semantics and pragmatics?

C. Purpose
1. To know what the definitions of semantics and pragmatics are.
2. To know what the similarities and differences between semantics and
pragmatics are.
3. To know how the examples of semantics and pragmatics.
4. To know what the roles of semantics and pragmatics are.
 CHAPTER II
DISCUSSION

A. Definition of Semantics and Pragmatics

1. Definition of Semantics
When we hear about semantics, surely there are so many definition about it. It
can be both According to Charles W. Kreidler semantics is the study of how
languages organize and express meanings.1 In other words, semantics is the study
focusing in meaning. How people express their meaning by both speaking or
writing. While Patrick Griffiths said semantics is the study of the “toolkit” for
meaning: knowledge encoded in the vocabulary of the language and in its patterns
for building more elaborate meanings, up to the level of sentence meanings. It
means, semantics is principally concerned with speakers' knowledge or
competence to use the language system in producing meaningful utterances and
processing (comprehending) utterances produced by others.2

2. Definition of Pragmatics
Pragmatics is another branch of linguistics that is concerned with meaning. 3
Levinson in Hourence, pragmatics is the study of relation between language and
context that are grammaticalized or encoded the structure of a language.
Therefore, pragmatics concerns with person's ability to derive meanings from
specific kinds of speech situation. We also ever hear “pragmatically”.
Pragmatically is what correct or true in certain instance is. It seems like we have
to recognize what the speaker said about. For instance, there is a question “When
did you last see my brother?”. Linguistically, there are many possible answers to
answer that question. It can be “Around noon”, “Last Tuesday”, or “I think it was
on 22nd February”, and so on. But in the specific occasion, it has only one
appropriate answer.

1 Charles W. Kreidler, 1998, Introducing Engish Semantics, London: Routledge p.3

2 Patrick Griffiths, 2006, An Introduction to Englsih Semantics and Pragmatics, Edinburgh:
Edinburgh University Press, p.1
3 Ibid, p.17
B. The Similarities and differences of Semantics and Pragmatics
1. Similarities of Semantics and Pragmatics
Both semantics and pragmatics also have similarities as same as other science.
The first similarity of them is, they are branches of linguistics. They are included
in three studies in the field of semiotics (syntax, semantics, and pragmatics).
Second, they are concerned with people's ability to use language meaningfully.
Third, they both semantics and pragmatics deal with the meanings of words and
sentences in divergent ways.

2. Differences of Semantics and Pragmatics

There are some differences of both linguistics field semantics and pragmatics.
a. Truth-Conditional vs Non-Truth-Conditional
Semantics is related to the aspects of truth-conditional meaning. It means,
a sentence must be verified empirically or analytically. Whereas pragmatics
is related to the non-truth-conditional meaning. It more takes into account
the context. Therefore, pragmatics is said to take a functional approach.
b. Linguistic meaning and utterance meaning
Semantics is the study that examines the linguistic meaning. Which learns
the meaning that contains in morphemes, words, phrases, and sentences that
free of context. While pragmatics examines the utterance meaning. In
pragmatics, speaker meaning emphasizes to the meaning of the sentence and
relation to the word meaning.
c. Context independence vs context dependence
What is meant by meaning internally is context-free meaning
(Independent context). It means, that meaning can be interpreted without
context or meaning that contained in dictionary. Whilst the meaning studied
externally is context-bound meaning (Dependent context). That means, if the
language units in a speech can be explained if there is a context, such as the
context of who speaks, with whom, how the condition and so on.
C. Examples
a. The sentence “I'm sorry”. It is really difficult to verify whether people really
say sorry or not.

b. Girl: Have you eaten this lunch?

1: I have not eaten yet, and I do not want to eat.
2: I already eat
3: I'm full

c.
1) Father: What is your test-score?
Son: I got 50, Dad.
Father: Excellent. Tomorrow don't study!
2) Beware, the president is coming!
The word excellent in the first example is not meant by “good” or “not bad”.
Then, the second example is used as satire to someone.
 CHAPTER III
CONCLUSION

A. Conclusion
From the explanation above we can conclude that if semantics asks “What
does X mean?” meanwhile pragmatics asks “What did you mean by X?”. Besides,
they also have some similarities and differences. They are parts of linguistics and
they deal with the meanings of words and sentences in divergent ways. They have
three differences, condition, meaning, and context.