[Theory + Practice] C2. Prag - Context + Deixis

pragmatics

the study of what speakers mean or speaker's meaning

(speaker's meaning: what a speaker means when he/she utters a sentence, usually in a particular context)

Syntax

cú pháp

- relationship between linguistic forms

- how they are arranged in sequence

- which sequences are well-formed

Semantics

what linguistic expressions meaning out of context

how many contexts in pragmatics

4

physical context

where the conversation is taking place, what objects are present, what actions are occurring...

A: Where's the cheese sandwich sitting?

B: He's over there by the window

-> physical context: in a restaurant

Epistemic context

- what speakers know about the world

- background knowledge shared by speakers

Ex: everyone knows that libraries are quiet places, therefore, outloud speaking is not welcomed

Linguistic context = Co-text

- a set of words used in the same phrase or sentence. (mấy cái kiểu reference: her/he/she...)

- also the tone of voice/intonnation the speaker uses

social context

social relationship between speakers and hearers

deixis

• a technical term from Greek which means "pointing"

• In linguistics, deixis refers to words/phrases that cannot be fully understood without additional contextual information

• Deixis usually requires a speaker and hearer sharing the same context.

• 5 types of deixis (person, social, time, discoursal, spatial)

person deixis

- pointing to things: it, this, these boxes; that book ...

- pointing to people: I, you, he, she, it, them, those idiots...

- each person in a conversation shifts from being "I" to being "you" constantly.

social deixis

the linguistic expressions that show the status of the speaker, the addressee, or a third person or entity referred to

Ex: Mr./Mrs./Miss.

spatial deixis

- used to point to a location (here, there, near)

- some verbs of motion have a deictic sense:

+ come (movement towards the speaker)

+ go (movement away from the speaker)

Ex: Here she goes

Here she comes

temporal deixis

• used to point to a time (now, then, last year, next month, this week...)

• present tense verbs, past tense verbs (walks, walked)

discoursal deixis

Ex: to begin with, first, next, in the following paragraph, last but not least...

• connectives

• helps to smooth the transitions or connections between different parts of a textual units

Deixis is a powerful rhetorical and ideological tool. It can:

• Shape who belongs and who is excluded

• Construct time and space in favor of certain narratives

• Assign responsibility or authority

• Implicitly communicate values, biases, or hierarchies

Syntax deals with whether linguistic sequences are well-formed.

True

Semantics and pragmatics study exactly the same type of meaning.

False

Physical context includes the location and actions occurring during a conversation.

True

Linguistic context only includes words, not intonation or tone.

False

Deixis USUALLY requires speakers and hearers to share the same context.

True

Person deixis does not change during a conversation.

False

Spatial deixis can be expressed through certain verbs of motion.

True

Discoursal deixis is mainly concerned with social status.

False

Deixis can be used to shape ideology and assign responsibility.

True

Deixis is clearly a form of interpreting that is tied to the speaker’s context

True

People only use “then” as a distal form in the past tense

False

“Sunday, November 9th” is a form of deictic temporal reference

False

People use temporal deixis with the aim of politeness in communication

F

The speaker and listener have to share the same context in order to be interpreted correctly

T

1. Pragmatics is the study of what ………..mean when they use language.

speakers

2. Syntax is the study of the relationship between linguistic …………

forms

3. Syntax also examines how linguistic forms are arranged in …………

sequence

4. Semantics studies what linguistic expressions mean …………

out of context

5. There are ………..main types of context in pragmatics.

four

6. Physical context refers to ___the conversation is taking place and what ………..are present.

where, objects

7. Knowing that libraries are quiet places is part of the ………..context.

epistemic

8. Epistemic context involves ………..shared by speakers.

background knowledge

9. Linguistic context is also known as …………

co-text

10. Pronouns like he and she rely heavily on the ………..context.

linguistic

11. Social context refers to the ………..between speakers and hearers.

social relationship

12. Deixis comes from a Greek word meaning …………

pointing

13. Deictic expressions cannot be fully understood without ………..information.

contextual

14. There are ………..types of deixis in linguistics.

five

15. Words such as I, you, and they are examples of ………..deixis.

person

16. Titles like Mr. and Mrs. are examples of ………..deixis.

social

17. Words such as now and next month are examples of ………..deixis.

temporal

18. Discoursal deixis helps create smooth ………..between parts of a text.

transitions

19. spatial deixis used to point to a ____, some ____ have a deictic sense

location, verbs of motion

Identify context 

• “Dispatcher: 911 What's the nature of your emergency?  

•  Caller:  My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart” 

• Dispatcher: Is this her first child?  

• Caller: No, you idiot! This is her husband!

• Physical context: 

The interaction takes place over a telephone call.

The caller is at home with his pregnant wife.

The dispatcher is at the emergency call center (at work).

• Epistemic context: call 911 when an emergency occurs. 

• Linguistic context: “her” in line 2 refers to “my wife”

• Social context: emergency dispatcher (authority/helper) and caller (citizen seeking help).

Identify context

A: Hey, did you finish the group report? I've been waiting here in the library study room, and the librarian is already giving me suspicious looks.

B: Almost! I'm in the computer lab downstairs, just fixing the conclusion. The printer here is acting like it hates me.

A: Okay, once you're done, bring it up so I can submit it. The deadline box is right outside this room.

B: Got it. Pl run upstairs in ten minutes unless the printer explodes first.

* Social context 

A & B The speaker are classmates or group project partner 

* Physical context (location): The conversation occurs within a university or school building 

* Epistemic context: 

- Both know about the group report and its deadline 

+ Where the submission box is located 

+ The typical problems with school printers. 

* Linguistic Context: 

- Casual, conversational tone with light humor: the printer hates me, unless it explodes first.

- “the conclusion”, mentioned by B, refers to the conclusion of the group report

- “it” in A’s utterance “OK, once you’re done, bring it up” refers to the group

Indicate the type of deixis of the underlined word or phrase.

(1)   A: Hello, how may I help you?

(2)   B: I’d like to send this package to California.

(3)   A: Would you like to send it overnight or by regular mail?

(4)   B: How much is it to send it overnight?

(5)   A: 20 dollars.

(6)   B: And by regular mail?

(7)   A: 12 dollars.

(8)   B: I’d like to get there tomorrow.

(9)   A: Would you mind filling out this form, please? When you are finished, come back to this window.

(10)                       B: Oh, I think I’m done. Is this correct?

(11)                       A: yes, that’s right/

(12)                       B: I’d like to mail this letter.

(13)                      A: Do you need to buy stamps?

(14)                       B: Yes

(15)                       A: A book of stamps costs 3 dollars. So that’ll be 23 dollars for everything.

(16)                       B: Oh, I forgot my wallet in the car. Could you wait for just a minute? I’ll be right back.

This package: person deixis                                   

Tomorrow: temporal deixis

There: spatial deixis                                     

costs: temporal deixis

Indicate the type of contexts in the conversation

(1)   A: Hello, how may I help you?

(2)   B: I’d like to send this package to California.

(3)   A: Would you like to send it overnight or by regular mail?

(4)   B: How much is it to send it overnight?

(5)   A: 20 dollars.

(6)   B: And by regular mail?

(7)   A: 12 dollars.

(8)   B: I’d like to get there tomorrow.

(9)   A: Would you mind filling out this form, please? When you are finished, come back to this window.

(10)                       B: Oh, I think I’m done. Is this correct?

(11)                       A: yes, that’s right/

(12)                       B: I’d like to mail this letter.

(13)                      A: Do you need to buy stamps?

(14)                       B: Yes

(15)                       A: A book of stamps costs 3 dollars. So that’ll be 23 dollars for everything.

(16)                       B: Oh, I forgot my wallet in the car. Could you wait for just a minute? I’ll be right back.

- Physical context:    the conversation occurs in a post office             

- Epistemic context: everyone knows that know that mailing a package requires paying postage.

- Linguistic context: polite tone of voice ; “it” in line refers to the package; “there” refers to California

- Social context: they are staff and customer ; they are strangers (a formal, service-oriented relationship.)

Location from the speaker's perspective sometimes refers to physical location. This is called deictic projection. (T/F)

F (projection → sense)

Sunday? Ok. I will see you then.

• I: person deixis

• you: person deixis

• then: temporal deixis

I had a holiday there last summer.

• I: person deixis

• there: spatial deixis

• last summer: temporal deixis

look at this

spatial deixis (no noun following)

this man

person deixis

This gives us a clearer view.

discoursal deixis

He walks to school everyday

(proximal) temporal deixis

He played tennis very well

(distal) temporal deixis

This is my hat

person deixis

That hat is mine

person deixis