EL1101EWEEK 10: PRAGMATICS

Group members:

Elaine Ong

Ong Min

Thakshayeni Skanthakumar

Jeannie Poon

Question 1: Speech Act

An utterance that has performative function Has three principle components

1. Locution: syntactic structure & linguistic meaning

2. Illocution: the speaker’s intention in making the utterance

3. Perlocution: the addressee’s behavioural response

Direct vs Indirect Speech ActsDirect

Syntactic form of the utterance = intenti.e. an interrogative sentence to

question

Indirect Syntactic form ≠ intent

i.e. an interrogative sentence to request

Performative Verb

verbs carried out simply by means of uttering them aloud Example: apologizing

By saying we apologize, we perform an expressive act simultaneously with the naming of that expressive act

Speech Act a) Question

Direct: I question the witness’ reliability. Is the witness lying?

Indirect I wonder if the witness is telling the truth.

**Expressive speech act form

 

Speech Act b) Request

Direct: I request that you wear something else for

the party Please wear something else for the party

Indirect I don’t think you should wear that for the

party.**Verdictive speech act form

Speech Act c) Promise

Direct: I promise to attend tonight’s party. I will attend tonight’s party.

Indirect I am free. (In response to an invitation to

attend tonight’s party)**Representative speech act form

Question 2: Gricean Maxims of Conversation

There are four cooperative Maxims:

1) Maxim of Quantity (say enough) 2) Maxim of Quality (don’t lie) 3) Maxim of Relation (say something

relevant) 4) Maxim of Manner (don’t mislead)

Question 2: Gricean Maxims of Conversation

Professor A: His statements are based on unfounded

opinions Never backs up his statements with

anything factual

Violates: Maxim of quality (lacks adequate

evidence for what he says)

Question 2: Gricean Maxims of Conversation

Professor B:

1) Every sentence is about a million words longViolates: Maxim of quantity (Too much information within a

single sentence) 2) She uses all this complicated vocabulary, and she

never defines any of the wordsViolates: Maxim of manner (Obscurity of expression results in

distractions, students are unable to understand the meaning of the sentences)

Question 2: Gricean Maxims of Conversation

Professor C: Interrupt himself with a story about what

his son did at breakfast this morning He goes off on so many tangentsViolates: Maxim of relevance (Irrelevant

information) Maxim of quantity (There is no fixed

focus in his lectures, he says too much)

Question 2: Gricean Maxims of Conversation

Professor D: Does not give thorough answers to the

questions

Violates: Maxim of Quantity (Too little information)

Q3: PRAGMATIC COMPETENCE

Story:

Mother: Go ask your uncle what he wants to drink

Child goes to Uncle.

Child: Uncle, uncle, what you want to drink?

Child goes to her room.

Q3: Pragmatic Competence

Illocution vs

Perlocution

Illocution

Intention of the speaker with an utterance

3 forms Declarative: “Apples grow on trees” Interrogative: “So apples grow on trees?” Imperative “One apple, please!”

Perlocution

Effect of utterance on hearer 3 forms

Declarative: “You are under arrest.” Interrogative: “Can you stop crying?” Imperative: “Get me salt”

Q3: PRAGMATIC COMPETENCE

Story:

Mother: Go ask your uncle what he wants to drink

Child goes to Uncle.

Child: Uncle, uncle, what you want to drink?

Child goes to her room.

Mother: Go ask your uncle what he wants to drink

What she meant: Perlocutionary utterance1) Go to Uncle2) Ask him what drink he wants3) Come back and tell me

Q3: Pragmatic Competence

What about the Uncle?

Assumption:Uncle: Milo.

What he could have said:Uncle: Get me milo.

Question 4: Pragmatic Analysis of Apology in Singapore?

Case study I sincerely apologise if I have offended or hurt

anyone with my comment. It was indeed uncalled for. Upon further reflection, I realise how insensitive I was, the comment wasn’t meant to hurt anybody. I would like to apologise to Cindy and her family. I will learn from this and be very mindful of my comments and behaviour on social media. Once again, to everyone who I have offended by this post, I sincerely apologise.

  Miss Jesslyn Tan (Miss Universe Singapore)

Question 4: Pragmatic Analysis of Apology in Singapore?

Felicity conditions for apology Condition 1: Admission of fault (not fulfilled; she

denies responsibility for the comment she made; I sincerely apologise if I have offended or hurt anyone with my comment. It was indeed uncalled for + the comment wasn’t meant to hurt anybody)

Condition 2: Sincere expression of remorse (fulfilled; “I sincerely apologise” “I would like to apologise to Cindy and her family.”)

Condition 3: Promise of non-recurrence (fulfilled; “I will learn from this and be very mindful of my comments and behaviour on social media; she won’t do this again.)

Question 4: Pragmatic Analysis of Apology in Singapore?

But, was the apology effective overall?

Must depend on the situation in which the apology is made!

Question 4: Pragmatic Analysis of Apology in Singapore?

We feel that it was not effective overall. Use of apology words(yes) But she did not explain why it was her

fault Private venue; her apology was made

behind the computer even though she is a public figure

Insincere; it is possible that she is not remorseful.

Question 4: Pragmatic Analysis of Apology in Singapore?