English Linguistics II: Text Linguistics and Pragmatics

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Text Linguistics and Pragmatics in the lecture notes.

Text Linguistics

Deals with the structure and linguistic makeup of texts and their uses/functions in communication; texts as carriers of sense and vessels of knowledge.

1.defining what is a text (linguistically)

2. which type of text are there and how do they differ structurally/stylistically

3. what do we do with texts in practical action(e.g. order goods, offer condolences (співчуття), exchange greetings)

typically understood as written piece of communication

Pragmatics

Systematic study of meaning that depends on language use in context; distinguishes speaker meaning from hearer meaning.

1. language is used to get things done(semiotic work) - using language is acting(‘doing things with words’, AUSTIN 1962)

2. language is more than lexis /grammar- It also compirises knowledge of use/ context and the competence to phrase things in order to say exactly whay you mean

Pragmatics Views

1. component view(anglo-American)- pragmatics is a core component of a theory of language alongside phonology, morphology, syntax.etc

2. perspective view (continental Europe)-pragmatics is a functional(i.e. cognitive,social,cultural) perspective on linguistic phenomena in relation to their usage in the form of behaviour

Text Linguistics Views/stages

1. trans-casual approach:

   the means used to connect clauses/sentences(formal,text grammar)

2. comm.-pragmatics approach the correlation(взаємозв'язок)between comm. function and textual forms(genre, register,types)

3. cognitive approach

   the production and reception(interpretation) of texts

Indeterminacy / Underdeterminacy

Some language elements can’t be fully understood from words alone; we rely on context, real-world knowledge, and inference to grasp their intended meaning.

Linguistic structures concerned(Indeterminacy / Underdeterminacy)

1. Pronouns-Pointing/Indexical Expression

2. lexical and grammatical ambiguity

3. grammatical structures(Morphology,Syntax)

Pronouns-Pointing/Indexical Expression(Linguistic structures concerned(Indeterminacy / Underdeterminacy))

• personal pronouns in cobversational Interaction:

  You and you, but not you, stand up

• Pronouns in Text:

  2
  a) The authorities barred the anti-­globalization demonstrators because they advocated violence.
  b) The authorities barred the anti‐globalization demonstrators because they feared violence.

Ambiguity- Lexical & Grammatical(Linguistic structures concerned(Indeterminacy / Underdeterminacy))

• Lexical Ambiguity:
  John is looking for his glasses.
  a) glasses = spectacles
  b) glasses – drinking vessels

• Syntatic Ambiguity:

  They are cooking apples
  a) What are they doing in the kitchen? They are cooking apples.
  b) What kind of apples are those? They are cooking apples.

Grammatical & Morphological Structures (Linguistic structures concerned(Indeterminacy / Underdeterminacy))

• POSSESSIVE ‘S’
  a) I have borrowed Jane’s car. (the car Jane owns)
  b) I would hate to have Simon’s job. (the job Simon does)
  c) Yesterday’s events (events that happened yesterday) really shocked the country’s
  president (the president who heads the country)
  d) Jane’s father (the father of Jane) has bought her a car.

• WORD STRUCTURE – PHRASE STRUCTURE
  a) child actor – child psychologist
  b) addi)ve free – 50 per cent extra free

Saying vs. Meaning

In everyday language, it’s normal to say less than we mean, or to mean something different from what we say. This gap is central to pragmatics, and we rely on context to understand the intended meaning.

Indirectness & Non-Literalness

CONVENTIONAL INDIRECTNESS
is when we say one thing but mean another, relying on context to convey the intended meaning. It’s a normal way of communicating, connecting a literal meaning with an implied one.

A polite strategy in pragmatics where requests or actions are expressed indirectly using socially recognized formulas rather than blunt commands.

• Function: softens the imposition, shows respect, maintains social harmony.

Examples:

1. “There is a big bookshop over there.” → (Implied: Let’s go buy a book.)

2. “Is it tea or coffee?” → (Implied: Which will you have?)

Non-Literalness – Metaphor & Metonymy

METAPHOR

makes a direct comparison between two seemingly unrelated things by stating one is the other.

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read but
not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, with diligence and attention (…)
(Francis Bacon) READING IS EATING/PRODUCTS OF THE INTELLECT ARE FOODS

Time flies. (TIME IS A MOVING OBJECT)

METONYMY
replaces a word or concept with another word or phrase that is closely associated with it

For the busy weekend ahead the restaurant needed some more hands. (HAND
STANDS FOR PEOPLE).
The saxophone has just gone out to get some coffee. (INSTRUMENT STANDS FOR
PERSON)

NONLITERAL MEANING-MAKING

1) Humans make systematic connections between concepts and use one to mean another (cognitive aspect).
2) The non-­literal expressions have become so conventionalized that we think of them as natural.

Two Types of Meaning

1. Sentence meaning(pre-contextual)

2. speaker or utterance meaning(contextual)

SENTENCE MEANING (PRE-CONTEXTUAL)

the meaning-­potential of a sentence in the abstract following the language system
(i.e. lexical meanings, paradigmatic/syntagmatic relations) – lexical/grammatical
knowledge needed (of interest to semantics)

15
A: Could you hand me that book?
B: yeah sure
(10 sec.)
A: Today would be nice.

A/1: asking for ability; A/2: expressing potentiality

SPEAKER OR UTTERANCE MEANING (CONTEXTUAL)

the meaning that a speaker intends to convey in a given situation or context by
making an uberance; speaker meaning ideally corresponds to hearer meaning –
communicative/pragmatic knowledge needed (of interest to pragmatics)

15
A: Could you hand me that book?
B: yeah sure
(10 sec.)
A: Today would be nice.

A/1: requesting an action; A/2: requesting an action (‘give it to me now!’

Appropriateness

An utterance is appropriate if it suits the situation and effectively achieves the speaker’s communicative goal for both speaker and listener.
16
Only open restraining bar shortly before you get off.
17
No smoking.
18
Would you like tea or coffee?
Is it tea or coffee?

Relevance

everything we seek to understand has to be given the appropriate relevance

19
A: Let’s go the movies tonight.
B: I have to study for an exam.
(SEARLE 1975: 61)
20
A: Would you like one of those cookies?
B: There must be 2.000 calories in there.
21
A: haven’t seen Doris for a while – how is she?
B: deliriously happy
A: oh – who is he?

Context

The features surrounding an utterance that guide interpretation; includes physical, linguistic (co-text), and general knowledge contexts.

Three Types of Context

Physical context

Linguistic context (co-text)

General Knowledge context.

Physical Context

The physical setting of an utterance (place, time, participants).

22
He’s not the chief executive; he is. He’s the managing director.
23
Bring that thing over here and put it on there.

Linguistic Context

Co-text; The surrounding words or sentences that help shape the meaning of an utterance.(previous and/or following(consecutive (sentences)

I found Ed Smith’s article offensive and wrong in its various assumptions. To declare
Germany’s footballer’s cleverer than Brazil’s by drawing on just one match (…) is
foolish. His “anecdotal” evidence is just that. (ECONOMIST, INTELLIGENT LIFE, Jan/
Feb. 2015: 16)

General Knowledge Context

World knowledge and background assumptions used to interpret language.

26
1) I went to Beijing last month. The Forbidden City was magnificent.
2) I went to Paris last month. The Forbidden City was magnificent.
27
Alcohol behind the wheel will kill you. (Don’t drink and drive

Major Objects of Enquiry in Pragmatics

1. DEIXIS – USE OF DEICTIC EXPRESSIONS
2. ENTAILMENTS & INFERENCES

3. PRESUPPOSITIONS
4. SPEECH ACTS
5. CO-OPERATION & IMPLICATURE
6. POLITENESS