Pragmatics

The study of Language by George Yule (2006)

New words
Pragmatics: the study of speaker meaning and how more is communicated than is said
Linguistic context: the set of other words used in the same phrase or sentence, also called co-text
Physical context: the situation, time or place in which words are used
Deixis (deictic expressions): using words such as this or here as a way of ‘pointing’ with language
Person deixis: using words such as him or them as a way of ‘pointing' to a person with language
Spatial deixis: using words such as here or there as a way of ‘pointing' to a location with language
Temporal deixis: using words such as now or tomorrow as a way of ‘pointing to a time with language
Reference: an act by which a speaker/writer uses language to enable a listener/reader to identify someone or something
Inference: additional information used by a listener/reader to create a connection between what is said and what must be meant
Anaphora (anaphoric expressions): use of pronouns (it) and noun phrases with the (the puppy) to refer back to something already mentioned
Antecedent: the first mention of someone or something later referred to via anaphora
Presupposition: an assumption by a speaker/writer about what is true or already known by the listener/reader
Speech act: an action such as ‘promising’ performed by a speaker with an utterance, either as a direct speech act or an indirect speech act
Direct speech act: an action in which the form used (e.g. interrogative) directly matches the function (e.g. question) performed by a speaker with an utterance, in contrast to an indirect speech act
Indirect speech act: an action in which the form used (e.g. interrogative) does not directly match the function (e.g. request) performed by a speaker with an utterance, in contrast to a direct speech act
Face: a person’s public self-image as described in the study of politeness
Face-threatening act: saying something that represents a threat to another person’s self-image
Face-saving act: saying something that reduces a possible threat to another person’s self-image
Negative face: the need to be independent and free from imposition, in contrast to positive face
Positive face: the need to be connected, to belong, to be a member of a group, in contrast to negative face

Study questions
1 perspn deixis,-I, you temporal deixis-now, later spatial deixis- here, come back
2 he, her, his, she, him, the pills, the pain
3 a) copy of a book b) a meal c) medical condition d) an appointment
4 a) You have a clock. b) He found the money. c) We bought the car. d) France has a king.
5 a) direct b) indirect c) indirect d) direct
6 a) negative face b) positive face