1 Semantics vs Pragmatics vs Syntax - Introduction to Semantics

Lesson 1 - WHAT IS SEMANTICS ABOUT?

Linguistics has three main branches: Syntax, Semantics and Pragmatics.

 Syntax is the study of grammar (phonology, morphology, syntax and textual grammar)

 Semantics and pragmatics deal with meaning.

 SEMANTICS is the study of MEANING in LANGUAGE. (i.e what language means) (Hurford, Heasley, and Smith, 2007, p.1)

 PRAGMATICS considers the MEANING in SOCIAL CONTEXTS and the ways people produce and comprehend MEANINGS through language. (i.e what people mean by the
language they use).

Notes: Semantics is context-free. On the other hand, pragmatics is context-dependent.

Ex 1: Peter: “Coming down to the pub tonight?”
Bill: “I‟ve got to finish a piece of work .”

The semantic meaning: Bill‟s reply just informs Peter he has a piece of work to finish.

The pragmatic meaning: Bill‟s reply will normally be taken to indicate that he is not free to go to the pub, even though he does not actually say that.

Ex 2: “There‟s a new Korean restaurant on Vo Thi Sau Street”

The semantic meaning: The speaker simply informs the hearer of the new Korean restaurant on Vo Thi Sau Street.

The pragmatic meaning: The speaker suggests trying that new restaurant.

SENTENCE MEANING (or WORD MEANING) is what a sentence (or word) means, i.e. what it counts as the equivalent of in the language concerned.

SPEAKER MEANING is what a speaker means (i.e. intends to convey) when he uses a piece of language. (Hurford, Heasley, and Smith, 2007, p.3)

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