I.

PORTFOLIO PRAGMATICS & BASIC CONCEPTS

1. Define pragmatics in your own words. What is the difference between pragmatics
and semantics?

Pragmatics: the study of the speaker's meaning in different situations or contexts,

meaning as communicated by the speaker( or writer) and interpreted by a listener( or
reader)

Pragmatics Semantics
deals with that aspect of meaning help in getting a sense of meaning
which is dependent on the context in context to speakers, writers,
readers of learners

deals with the relation of signs to deals with the study of what signs
their users and interpreters. denote

2. Why is pragmatics important in the study of language?

Contextual Understanding: Pragmatics helps in understanding

language beyond its literal meaning. It considers the context in which
communication occurs, including the social, cultural, and situational
factors that influence language use. This contextual understanding is
essential for interpreting meaning accurately.
3. Describe the principles/goals of pragmatics

cial aspects of communication. The field is guided by several principles

and goals that help researchers and linguists understand how speakers
convey meaning in real-world situations by follow some of the principles
like Contextual Dependence, Speaker Intentions, Inference and
Implicature, Reference and Anaphora Resolution, Speech Acts,
Politeness and Face, Cultural Variation, Cooperative Principle,
Adaptability, Development of Pragmatic Competence.
4. Define context and co-context. Give some examples. Why is context a crucial
element in the study of pragmatics?

Context: Context refers to the circumstances in which communication

occurs, encompassing physical settings, participant relationships, cultural
factors, and relevant information. Understanding context is vital for
interpreting the intended meaning of language.
Co-context: Though not a widely-used term, "co-context" can be seen
as the shared contextual understanding within a communication
interaction. It involves shared knowledge, social roles, and ongoing
discourse in a conversation.

Importance of Context in Pragmatics: Context is crucial in pragmatics

because it enables the interpretation of implied meanings, guides speech
act realization, influences politeness strategies, and ensures cultural
sensitivity. It aids in resolving ambiguity, adapting language use, and
fostering effective communication in diverse social situations.
5. What is the difference between utterance meaning and sentence meaning? Make a
list of utterances which though may not be grammatical are communicative.

Utterance meaning Sentence meaning

 Context-dependent meaning in
specific situations.
 Considers speaker intentions and
implied meanings.
 Influenced by social, cultural, and
situational context.
 Literal interpretation based on
grammatical structure.
 Independent of context.
 Analyzed through word
denotations and sentence
structure.

Examples of Communicative Utterances:

1. Ellipsis:
 "You coming to the party?"
2. Fragmented Sentences:
 "Got the tickets?"
3. Interjections:
 "Wow!"
4. Phatic Expressions:
 "How's it going?"
5. Imperatives:
 "Close the door."
6. Exclamations:
 "What a beautiful day!"
7. Conversational Deletions:
 "Going out. See you later."
8. Non-Standard Grammar:
 "Me want cookie."