Mid Test Introduction to Pragmatics

What is the nature of pragmatics?

• Pragmatics is the study of meaning

• Pragmatics is the study of how context contributes to meaning

• Pragmatics is the study of how sound is produced

• Pragmatics is the study of how sentences are structured

Postulate does not mean suggest or assume the existence, fact, or truth of (something) as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief.

• True

• False

Implicature is the action of implying a meaning beyond the literal sense of what is explicitly stated.

• True

• False

Postulate 2

Semantics is rule-governed ( grammatical ); general pragmatics is principle-controlled ( rhetorical )

• True

• False

The division of labour between rules and principles can be illustrated by the passive in English. "The fly was killed by Martha"

• pragmatics explains how the passive is formed, and grammar explains the conditions under which it is likely to be preferred to the corresponding active.

• grammar explains how the passive is formed and the conditions under which it is likely to be preferred to the corresponding active.

• pragmatics explains how the passive is formed and the conditions under which it is likely to be preferred to the corresponding active.

• grammar explains how the passive is formed, pragmatics explains the conditions under which it is likely to be preferred to the corresponding active.

Postulate 1

The semantic representation (or logical form) of an utterance is similar from its pragmatic interpretation

• True

• False

"Colorless green ideas sleep furiously" was composed by ..........

• Geoffrey Leech

• Halliday

• Noam Chomsky

• Paul Grice

Leech gave a more representative example of human speech behaviour through an utterance said by an American hostage in Iran in 1980. That example is the part of postulate no ..........?

• Postulate 1

• Postulate 2

• Postulate 3

• Postulate 4

Leech gave a more representative example of human speech behaviour through an utterance said by an American hostage in Iran in 1980. What did the hostage do during that critical moment?

• He said that he had been ill-treated so the media and public know the truth

• He said that he had been ill-treated to avoid saying something that might give offense to his captors

• He said that he had not been ill-treated to avoid saying something that might give offense to his captors and so delay his release

• He said that he had been quiet to avoid saying something which might give offense to his captors

Postulate 3

The rules of grammar are fundamentally non-conventional; the principles of pragmatics are fundamentally conventional, ie motivated in terms of conversational goals. The statement above is ...........

• True

• False