Pragmatics

1. Question1: Distinguish the pramatics and semantics Give examples Semantics and pragmatics are the two main areas of linguistic study that look at the knowledge we use both to extract meaning when we hear or read, and to convey meaning when we speak or write. Within linguistics itself, the dividing line between these two disciplines is still under considerable debate. However, generally speaking, SEMANTICS concentrates on meaning that comes from purely linguistic knowledge, while PRAGMATICS concentrates on those aspects of meaning that cannot be predicted by linguistic knowledge alone and takes into account knowledge about the physical and social world. On the other hand, semantics is the study of meaning in language (i.e. what language means) while pragmatics is concerned with meaning in context (i.e. what people mean by the language they use). Take the distinction between semantic meaning and pragmatic meaning as an illustration of how semantics is different from but, at the same time, closely related to pragmatics. Semantic meaning is context-free whereas pragmatic meaning is context-dependent. (1) A: Would you like a piece of cake? B: Im on a diet. The semantic meaning of Im on a diet in (1) is I want to lose weight by eating the food which is not rich in fat, sugar, etc. The pragmatic meaning of Im on a diet in (1) is I dont want any piece of cake or Im afraid that I have to refuse your invitation. (2) Tom: Do you like the wine I picked out? Gina: Its Italian, isnt it? The semantic meaning of Its Italian, isnt it? in (2) is Is it right that the wine is made in Italy? The pragmatic meaning of Its Italian, isnt it? in (2) is I dont like the wine you picked out.

2. Question 2: 1. What is one way entailment? Give examples. 2. What is two way entailment? Give examples. There are two types of entailment, namely one-way entailment and two-way (or mutual) entailment. One-way entailment is the entailment that works in only one direction. Meanwhile two-way entailment is the entailment that has meaning relationship and the sentences that contain mutual entailment are paraphrases of each other. Example: One-way entailment: Jenny saw a bear Jenny saw an animal Because, bear is an animal but animal is not necessarily a bear. This means that the entailment works in only one direction. Two-way entailment: (A) my mother is in front of my father

(B) my father is behind my mother The front and behind have meaning relationship and the sentence can be paraphrased. If the (A) sentence is true, the sentence (B) is also necessarily true. Therefore, the entailment works in two directions.

3. What are presuppositions? Give examples and explanations A presupposition is something the speaker assumes to be the case prior to making an utterance. Speakers, not sentences, have presuppositions. On the other hand, presupposition is what a speaker or writer assumes that the receiver of the message already knows. Example: John doesnt write poems anymore presupposes that John once wrote poetry . And Would you like another beer? presupposes that the person called you here has already had at least one beer.

4. Discourse Analysis 1. Analyze the following piece of classroom discourse in terms of transactions, exchanges and moves. Transaction: Exchange1 1. Teacher: What are Pyramids? 2. Pupils: (no answers) Exchange 2 3. T: Why did they build Pyramids? 4. T: Paul? I [move] (Question) N/A I [move] (Question) N/A

5. Pupil: When they were dead they put all their riches R [move] (answer) and everything they owned in their Pyramids. 6. T: Yes they did, yes. F (feedback) 7. T: Right in the depth, in the heart of the Pyramid there F [move] (follow was a special little room where they had their personal up) belongings. Precious special things that belong to them. Exchange 3 8. T: Can you guess the sort of things that might be with I [move] (Question) them? 9. Pupil: Jewels 10. T: Their own special jewels R [move] (answer) F (feedback) [move] [move]

2. Analyze the sentences in the following paragraph in terms of Theme and Rheme.

Theme Parts of Northern Britain

Rheme were brought to a standstill by heavy snow and ice yesterday with roads closed and dangerous driving conditions.

Scotland Two hundred schools

was worst hit. were closed in Aberdeenshire, where roads were impassable,

and more than seven inches of snow was recorded at Aberdeen airport. An injured climber survived 18 hours in sub-zero temperatures clinging to an ice-covered ledge after falling 400ft in Glencoe. Lawrence Reeve, 40, a computer was recovering in hospital yesterday after suffering operator from Chessington, Surrey, The lone walker severe facial injuries, a punctured lung and frostbite. was making his way along a ridge when he fell into Glen Cam, striking a boulder which saved him from a further drop of 300ft.