Chapter 8 Language in Use语用学概要1.ppt

Chapter EightLanguage in Use 1. What is pragmatics? 1.1 Definition Pragmatics can be defined as the study of how speakers of a language use sentences to effect successful communication. 语用学研究的是说某种语言的人怎样用句子去实现成功的交际。 As the process of communication is essentially a process of conveying meaning in a certain context, pragmatics can also be regarded as a kind of meaning study. It places the study of meaning in the context in which language is used. If we divide meaning into two major sides: the side more closely related to the words used, the more constant, inherent side of meaning (which is studied under the heading of semantics) and the side more closely related to the context, the more indeterminate side, or something extra (which is studied under the heading of pragmatics), then we can say pragmatics =meaning-semantics. This kind of meaning is sometimes referred to as SPEAKER’S MEANING, UTTERANCE MEANING, or CONTEXTUAL MEANING. It differs from the kinds of meaning we studied in semantics in that its interpretation depends more on who the speaker of the sentence is, who the hearer is, when and where it is used. In a word, it depends more on the context. The discipline which concentrates on this kind of meaning is called PRAGMATICS. Since this kind of meaning comes partly from the use of language in a context, pragmatics may also be defined as the study of language in use. 1.2 pragmatics and semantics Pragmatics and semantics are both linguistic studies of meaning, but they are different. What essentially distinguishes semantics and pragmatics is whether in the study of meaning, the context of use is considered. If it is not considered, the study is restricted to the area of traditional semantics; if it is considered, the study is being carried out in the area of pragmatics. 语用学和语义学既有相关性又有相异性。 两者都是对意义的研究。传统语义学把语义看成是抽象的，内在的，是语言本身的特性，不受语境的影响。因此传统语义学只研究语义的内在特征，不把语义研究置于语境中来考察。 语用学研究的是交际过程中语言意义的表达和理解。语用学家认为不把意义放在语境中来考虑就不可能对语义进行充分的描述，因此在研究语义时是否考虑语境便成了语义学和语用学的根本区