Pragmatics

Question 0

What are ‘locution’, ‘illocution’ and ‘perlocution’?

Answer 0

Locution:
- the literal meaning of something
Illocution:
- the implied of something
Perlocution:
- the perceived meaning of something
I.e. a wife is taking in the washing and a knock is at the door, so the wife shouts to the husband "someone's at the door"
Locution:
- someone is at the door
Illocution:
- can you get the door 
Perlocution:
- *husband* I should answer the door.

Question 1

What is ‘pragmatics’?

Answer 1

The underlying meaning in language.

Question 2

Pragmatics can also depend on what?

Answer 2

‘Cultural assumptions’:

- the understanding of implied meanings based on a shared experience or knowledge of a group/culture of people.

Question 3

What are prosodic features in discourse?

Answer 3

• fillers
• pauses
• intonation
• utterance length (sentences)
• speech acts
• repetition
• hedges
• backtracking
• repairs
• back channeling
• minimal responses

Question 4

What is the ‘Speech Act Theory’?

Answer 4

An actor that is performed by making an utterance. This is done by the issuing of a warning, the making of a promise, or the giving of a greeting.