PRAGMATICS and Semantics
Importance of meaning in linguistic utterances.
Distinction between mere sounds/words and meaningful sentences.
Understanding Meaning
Philosophical Debate
Meaning as a longstanding philosophical question.
Discussions on whether meaning relates to the world or reflects thoughts.
The speaker choosIntroduction to Meaning in Language
es not to delve into this debate.
Linguistic Perspectives on Meaning
Acceptance that sentences carry meaning.
Two primary types or levels of meaning in linguistics:
Semantic Meaning
Pragmatic Meaning
Semantic Meaning
Defined as the literal meaning of a statement.
Example: "I have no money" communicates a factual claim about the speaker's financial state.
Key characteristics:
Can be evaluated for truth or falsehood.
Central to declarative sentences.
Pragmatic Meaning
Corresponds to the speaker's intention behind the utterance.
Asks: "Why does the speaker say this?"
Example motivations for saying "I have no money":
To inform the listener of one’s financial state.
To request money.
To express an apology.
Requires context for full understanding, often involving an interaction between 'I' and 'you'.
Comparison of Semantic and Pragmatic Meaning
Semantic Meaning
Can be understood independently of context.
Pragmatic Meaning
Heavily reliant on context; involves speaker's intentions and the relationship with the listener.
Importance of Context in Communication
Outside of linguistic textbooks, every utterance has a pragmatic element.
Example of factual statements:
Saying "one plus one equals two" can have multiple intentions, such as:
Informing the listener.
Implying the listener's ignorance in a subtle way.
Each utterance carries an implicit 'I' and an implicit 'you'.
Conclusion and Future Topics
Summary of the dual layers of meaning in language.
Upcoming discussions will focus on:
Semantics, specifically regarding color terms.
The power of words to change the world.