2024/2 PBI Introduction to Linguistics

Pragmatics is the branch of linguistics that studies how context influences the interpretation of meaning in communication. Unlike other fields of linguistics that focus on the formal structure of language (syntax, morphology, etc.), pragmatics examines how people use language in practice, particularly the implications of what is said and how it is understood within particular social contexts.

Key Points:

• Contextual Meaning: Pragmatics is concerned with how the meaning of an utterance is shaped by the context in which it occurs. This includes factors like the speaker’s intentions, the relationship between the speaker and the listener, the physical setting, and cultural norms.

• Influence of Key Scholars:

  • J.L. Austin and John Searle: Their work laid the foundation for understanding how language functions in terms of illocutionary acts. An illocutionary act is the act performed by the speaker through their utterance, such as making a request, giving a command, or making a promise. The focus here is on what the speaker intends to do with their words rather than what the words themselves mean in isolation.

  • H.P. Grice: Grice introduced the concept of implicature, which refers to the implied meaning or the unspoken inferences made during a conversation. For example, when someone says, "It’s getting late," they might be indirectly suggesting that it’s time to leave, even though they don’t explicitly say so.

• Semantics vs. Pragmatics: One of the central debates in linguistics is the distinction between semantics and pragmatics:

  • Semantics: Concerned with the meaning of words and phrases in isolation, independent of the speaker, listener, or context. It defines meaning in terms of the inherent properties of expressions in a particular language.

  • Pragmatics: Focuses on the use of language in context and the meaning derived from the interaction between speakers, the context, and the surrounding circumstances. The meaning here is dependent on the intentions of the speaker and the understanding of the listener, thus linking meaning to use.

In summary, pragmatics deals with how speakers convey meaning through context, intention, and social interaction, whereas semantics is more concerned with the fixed meaning of words and expressions in isolation.