CHAPTER 10
Pragmatics
Description Reflection
Pragmatics is a subfield
of linguistics and semiotics that studies the ways
in which context contributes to meaning.
Pragmatics encompasses speech act theory,
conversational implicature, talk in interaction and
other approaches to language behavior
in philosophy, sociology, linguistics and anthropol
ogy. Unlike semantics, which examines meaning
that is conventional or "coded" in a given
language, pragmatics studies how the
transmission of meaning depends not only on
structural and linguistic knowledge
(e.g., grammar, lexicon, etc.) of the speaker and
listener, but also on the context of the utterance,
any pre-existing knowledge about those involved,
the inferred intent of the speaker, and other
factors. In this respect, pragmatics explains how
language users are able to overcome
apparent ambiguity, since meaning relies on the
manner, place, time etc. of an utterance. The chapter taught us in a study of
the practical aspects of human
action and thinking.
The study of the use of linguistic
signs, words and sentences, in
real situations. [1]
Pragmatics describes the study of
meaning in the context of
interaction
It looks beyond the literal meaning
of an expression and considers
how meaning is constructed, as
well as focusing on implicit
meanings. Language is considered
an instrument of interaction, which
means people when they use the
language and the way we
communicate and understand
each other.