PRAGMATICS: THE

PRAGMATICS OF LANGUAGE,
SPEECH AND THE SITUATION,
SPEECH AND SPEAKERS, AND
PUTTING INFORMATION INTO
PERSPECTIVE

BY GROUP 3
Table of contents

Pragmatics of Information into

01. language 04. Perspective

Speech and the

02. Situation 05. Conclusion

Speech and
03. Speaker 06. Q&A
01.
Pragmatics
of
Language
Definition of Pragmatics in
Contrast to Semantics
Semantics is the study of the literal meaning of
words, phrases, and sentences.
Pragmatics, on the other hand, deals with how
language is used in real situations and how
meaning is influenced by context, speaker
intention, tone, and shared knowledge.
How Meaning is
Shaped by Context
Rather Than Just
Literal Meaning?
Meaning in language is often shaped by
the context in which it is used, rather than
just its literal interpretation
Examples of Implied
Meanings, Presuppositions, &
Conversational Implicatures
- Implied Meanings: Unstated
messages
ex: “I have to get up early
tomorrow" = declining an Shared Knowledge
invitation
- Presuppositions: Background Between Speaker and
assumptions Listener
ex " I am quite eating meat" =
Jane used to eat meat Understanding relise on common
- Conversational Implicatures: knowledge "He arrived late" Only
Additional meaning errived from clear if we know who "He" is
context Communication can break down
ex: without shared context
A: "Did you do the assignment?“
B: "I have a lot of work this
week."
02.
Speech and
the
Situation
Situational Context
Deixis
Situational context is the Deixis (from the Greek deicticos,
background or conditions of the meaning ‘pointing’) are words or
situation in which an utterance or phrases whose meaning can only
conversation occurs. be understood if we know their
situational context. This means
that the meaning of the word
depends on who is speaking,
when, and where.
Types of deixis:
-Person deixis (person
designation):Pronouns such as I,
you, he, she, we, they.
-Place deixis:Words like here,
there, thither, hither.
- Time deixis:Words like now,
yesterday, tomorrow, later,
earlier.
Speech Acts: Types of Actions
Performed Through Language

Speech acts refer to the actions

we perform through utterances in
communication. How the Same
Language is not only used to Utterance Can Mean
convey information but also to do Different Things in
things. According to speech act
theory, utterances can function as Different Situations
various types of acts such as
requesting, promising, The meaning of an utterance is
apologizing, ordering, or highly dependent on the context
thanking. in which it is spoken.
The same sentence can serve
different purposes based on
factors like tone, relationship
between speakers, or situational
setting.
03.

Speech and
Speakers
Speaker Intention

Speaker intention refers to the real

meaning or goal behind what a
speaker says. Sometimes, what we
say on the surface is different from Politeness Theory
what we really mean.
Politeness theory focuses on how people
Listeners use context, tone, and
use language to avoid conflict and protect
situation to guess the speaker’s
each other’s self-image, or “face.”
true intention.
There are two types of face: positive face
(the desire to be liked) and negative face
(the desire not to be pressured). When
someone says, “I’m sorry to ask, but can I
borrow some money?” instead of “Give me
money,” they are using polite language to
respect both their own and the
listener’s face.
Variations in Speech due to
Social Roles, Power
Relations, Gender, or Culture
- Social roles
Speech varies according to the Identity and Personal
social roles a person holds in a given
situation. Style in Communication
- Power relation
- Language and Identity
Language becomes more polite
Language reflects a person's identity, whether
when speaking to someone in a
it comes from their regional background,
higher position.
- social class, or education. Word choice,
Gender
accent, or speaking style can indicate who
Speech styles can differ between
they are and where they come from.
males and females.
- Personal style
- Culture
Every individual has a unique communication
Culture influences the way people
style, which can reflect their personality. This
communicate, including word
style includes speaking speed, tone of voice,
choices and the manner in which
and how information is conveyed
they speak.
04.
Putting
Information
into
Perspective
Information Structure: Topic
and Focus in a Sentence

Information structure refers to how

information is organized within a
sentence to highlight what the Key Concepts
speaker assumes the listener
already knows (topic) and what is Topic
new or important (focus). The "topic" is what the sentence is about.
It is usually known or given information.
Often appears at the beginning of the
sentence.
Focus
The "focus" is the new, important, or
contrastive information in the sentence.
It is what the speaker wants the listener to
pay attention to.
Usually appears at the end or is emphasized
in the sentence.
 What is “Given” and “New” Why Is This Important?
Information?
To make communication clear
- Given information = information
and smooth.
the listener already knows.
- New information = information
the listener doesn’t know yet.

How Do Speakers
Manage It?
-Start with what is already known
(Given), then add something
new.
-Use pronouns or signals if the
information was already
mentioned.
How intonation, stress, or word order
affects meaning.
Intonation Stress
Intonation is the rise and fall of your Stress means saying one word more
voice when speaking. It helps show strongly. The meaning can change
emotion or sentence type. depending on which word is stressed.
Ex: Ex:
“You’re going?” (rising tone = I didn’t say she stole it.
question) “You’re going.” (falling tone I didn’t say she stole it (maybe
= statement) Word someone else)
Order
The order of words in a sentence can
change what the sentence means.
Ex:
“Only John ate the cake.” (nobody else
ate it)
“John only ate the cake.” (he didn’t
bake or decorate it)
The Listener's Role in Interpreting
Relevance and Intent
Relevance (Connection
of Information)
Select important information.
Link it to the current topic being
discussed. Intent (Speaker's
Focus on the core message. Purpose)
Example: The teacher says, Understand the purpose: giving information,
“Some of you haven’t submitted making a suggestion, or warning.
your assignments.”→ Is this Pay attention to tone of voice and facial
message directed at you? expressions.
Listen actively to avoid misunderstanding.
Example:“You finally showed up.”→ It can be
positive, negative, or sarcastic, depending on
how it’s said.
Conclusion

This presentation underscores the importance of a

multidisciplinary perspective that includes both medical
insight and linguistic awareness. It reminds us that the
ability to interpret and respond to subtle cues in speech
can significantly impact diagnosis, treatment success,
and professional growth. As we continue to advance in
healthcare, integrating such pragmatic understanding
remains essential in achieving holistic and empathetic
patient care.