INTRODUCTION TO

PRAGMATICS
the study of language use
the study of linguistic phenomena from the point
of view of their usage properties and processes
(Verschueren, 1999).
the study of meaning in interaction (Thomas,
1995)
The linguistic phenomena to be studied from the
point of view of their usage can be situated at any
level of structure. The question pragmatics asks
is: How are the language resources used?

BRANCHES OF LINGUISTICS
Phonetics and phonology unit of
analysis?
Morphology unit of analysis?
Syntax unit of analysis?
Semantics explores the meaning of
linguistic units, typically at the level of
words (lexical semantics) or at the level of
sentences or more complex structures

PRAGMATICS AND
PHONETICS

The level of speech sounds: Most speakers of

languages with a significant degree of dialectal
variation, who have grown up with a local dialect
but who were socialised into the use of a standard
variety through formal education, will find that the
language they use sounds quite different
depending on whether they are in their
professional context or speaking to their parents or
siblings.

PRAGMAATICS AND
MORPHOLOGY
The level of morphemes and words: there are
pragmatic restrictions on and implications of aspects
of derivational morphology. Consider the derivational
relationship between grateful and ungrateful or kind
and unkind. The reason why this relationship is not
reversed, with a basic lexeme meaning ungrateful
from which a word meaning grateful would be
derived by means of the negative prefix, has
everything to do with a system of social norms which
emphasises the need for gratefulness and kindness.

PRAGMATICS AND SYNTAX

At the level of syntax: the same state of
affairs can be described by means of very
different syntactic structures:
John broke the figurine
The figurine was broken by John
The figurine was broken
The figurine got broken.

PRAGMATICS AND
SEMANTICS
At the level of word meaning (lexical semantics),
more than what would be regarded as dictionary
meaning has to be taken into account as soon as a
word gets used. Many words cannot be understood
unless aspects of world knowledge are invoked.
E.g. topless district it requires knowledge about
city areas with high concentration of
establishments
for
(predominantly
male)
entertainment where scantly dressed hostesses or
performers are the main attraction.

MEANING IN PRAGMATICS
I promise to be back early
means a promise on condition a future
action is involved: Ill come back early
(SEE the Speech act theory)

MEANING IN PRAGMATICS
Meaning is a triadic relation Speaker
means Y by X. E.g:
A: Shall we see that film tonight?
B: I have a headache.
The speaker means NO by saying I HAVE A
HEADACHE.

MEANING IN PRAGMATICS
pragmatics = utterance meaning.
Utterance meaning consists of the meaning of the
sentence plus considerations of the intentions of
the Speaker (the speaker may intend to refuse the
invitation to go to the film), interpretation of the
Hearer (the Hearer may interpret the utterance as a
refusal, or not), determined by Context and
background knowledge.

MEANING IN PRAGMATICS
pragmatics = meaning in context
! Meaning is not seen as a stable. Rather, it is
dynamically generated in the process of using
language. Also, pragmatics as the study of
meaning in context does not imply that one can
automatically arrive at a pragmatic understanding
of the phenomena involved just by knowing all the
extralinguistic information, because context is
not a static element.

EXAMPLE 1
A:
B:

Shall we see that film tonight?

I have a headache.

EXAMPLE 2
What might be the functions of the following
utterances?
1. Its hot in here.
2. Can you pass me the salt?
3. Ill talk to you tomorrow.
4. Its a beautiful day today.

EXAMPLE 3
Jacob: Do you know the way back to the
dining hall? We can go in my car.
Mark: Oh, I thought you didnt know the way
to the campus.
Jacob: I thought you didnt know!