PRAGMATICS: READ BETWEEN THE LINES
The study of how context shapes meaning and how speakers or writers communicate more than the literal words they use.
What is pragmatics?
According to H. P. Grice, people generally work together to make communication understandable. What is this idea called?
Cooperative Principle?
Communication fails because speakers do not share the same context or understand the same intention. What has occurred?
What is a pragmatic breakdown?
The cultural knowledge, experiences, and references that both writer and reader bring to a text.
What are shared resources?
The vocabulary or word choices used in a text.
What is Lexis?
The exact surface or dictionary meaning of what is said or written.
What is literal meaning?
“Give enough information — not too much and not too little.” What Maxim is this?
What is the Maxim of Quantity?
Deliberately breaking one of Grice's maxims so that the listener searches for an extra meaning.
What is flouting a maxim?
Information a reader already possesses and uses to understand the deeper meaning of a text.
What is background knowledge?
The literal dictionary meaning of a word without emotional or cultural associations.
What is denotation?
The deeper message that is suggested rather than directly stated.
What is implied meaning?
“Say only what you believe is true or what you have evidence for.” What Maxim is this?
What is the Maxim of Quality?
The situation, setting, and background that influence how language is understood.
What is context?
When one text refers to or echoes another text, event, or cultural moment.
What is intertextuality?
The feelings, ideas, attitudes, or associations suggested by a word beyond its dictionary definition.
What is connotation?
A speaker says, “Can you pass the salt?” They are not really asking whether you are physically able to do it. This extra meaning is called ______.
What is implicature?
“Stay relevant to the conversation.” What Maxim is this?
What is the Maxim of Relation?
A: “Did you finish the presentation?” B: “I spent three hours choosing the background design.” Which maxim is most clearly being broken?
What is the Maxim of Quantity?
A reader who understands the cultural references and background knowledge assumed by a text is called this.
What is an insider reader?
Words that carry strong attitude, judgement, or emotion.
What is loaded lexis?
The process by which a listener or reader works out an implied meaning using context, tone, and shared knowledge.
What is inference?
“Express yourself clearly, logically, and in a way that avoids unnecessary confusion.” What Maxim is this?
What is the Maxim of Manner?
A student is told to “sort out the presentation.” The student changes the font, but the teacher expected research, new slides and speaker notes. What caused the misunderstanding?
What is a pragmatic breakdown caused by an unclear or underspecified message?
A writer describes one person as an “activist” while another writer calls the same person a “protester.” What larger pragmatic concept explains how these vocabulary choices present the person differently?
What is representation?(or: what is positioning)
A group of words connected by a shared area of meaning, often revealing the writer's focus or theme.
What is a semantic field?