Semantics and Pragmatics / Overview (Clip 1)

Summary

This video introduces the study of language with a focus on semantics and pragmatics. It explains that while semantics deals with the meaning of words and sentences, pragmatics explores the intended meaning behind language use in context. An example illustrates the difference, showing how the sentence 'Is John there?' can have varying interpretations depending on the situation. The video encourages further exploration of these concepts through course materials, highlighting the subtleties and complexities of language.

Takeaways

• 📚 The course introduces the study of language with a focus on semantics and pragmatics.
• 🗣️ Language is a mode of communication with both form and meaning.
• 🎼 Phonology, morphology, and syntax are the subfields of linguistics that focus on the form of language.
• 🔍 Phonology deals with the sound system of a language, morphology with word formation, and syntax with sentence structure.
• 🌐 Semantics and pragmatics are the subfields of linguistics that focus on the meaning of language.
• 📖 Semantics is the study of meaning in language, while pragmatics is the study of what people mean by the language they use.
• 🤔 The difference between semantics and pragmatics is illustrated through the example of the sentence 'Is John there?'
• 💬 Semantically, 'Is John there?' is a yes/no question, but pragmatically it can be used as a request in different contexts.
• 🧐 In some situations, the distinction between semantics and pragmatics can be subtle and not clearly defined.
• 📚 Further details on the scope of semantics and pragmatics can be found in the course pack and suggested sources.
• 👋 The video concludes with the instructor's signature and an invitation to the next session.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the course taught by the speaker?

The main focus of the course is the study of language, with an emphasis on semantics and pragmatics.

What is the distinction made in linguistic studies between form and meaning?

In linguistic studies, the distinction is made between studies focusing on the form of language, such as phonology, morphology, and syntax, and studies focusing on the meaning of language, which include semantics and pragmatics.

What does phonology deal with in the study of language?

Phonology deals with the sound system of a particular language.

How does morphology relate to the study of language?

Morphology is concerned with how morphemes are combined into words.

What does syntax involve in the study of language?

Syntax involves the structure of phrase clusters and sentences.

What is the definition of semantics according to the script?

Semantics is defined as the study of meaning in language.

How is pragmatics different from semantics?

Pragmatics is defined as the study of what people mean by the language they use, which is different from semantics, which focuses on the inherent meaning of language.

Can you provide an example from the script that illustrates the difference between semantics and pragmatics?

The example given is the sentence 'Is John there?' which semantically is a yes/no question, but pragmatically could be used as a request to get John to speak on the phone.

Why might the difference between semantics and pragmatics sometimes be subtle and hard to distinguish?

The difference can be subtle because language use in context can alter the intended meaning, making it difficult to draw a clear line between the inherent meaning (semantics) and the intended meaning in a specific context (pragmatics).

What additional resources are suggested for further details on semantics and pragmatics?

Further details on the scope of semantics and pragmatics can be found in the course pack and other sources suggested by the speaker.

Who is the speaker in the video, and what is their closing statement?

The speaker is Butea, and their closing statement is a hope to see the viewer in the next video.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Semantics and Pragmatics

This paragraph introduces the speaker's course on semantics and pragmatics, two branches of linguistics that focus on the study of meaning in language. The speaker explains that while semantics is concerned with the inherent meaning of words and sentences, pragmatics examines how context influences the interpretation of language. An example is given to illustrate the difference, using the sentence 'Is John there?' which can have a literal semantic meaning as a yes/no question or a pragmatic meaning as a request to speak with John, depending on the context.

05:02

🔍 Concluding Remarks on Language Study

In the concluding paragraph, the speaker summarizes the video's content, emphasizing the importance of understanding semantics and pragmatics in the broader study of language. They encourage viewers to refer to the course pack and suggested materials for a more in-depth exploration of these topics. The speaker, Butea, thanks the audience for watching and expresses hope to see them in the next video, ending with a friendly sign-off.

Keywords

💡Language

Language is a fundamental mode of communication that encompasses both form and meaning. In the context of the video, language is the primary subject of study, with a focus on how it conveys information. The script discusses language in terms of its structure and meaning, highlighting the importance of understanding both aspects for a comprehensive study of linguistics.

💡Semantics

Semantics is defined in the video as the study of meaning in language. It is a key concept because the video emphasizes the difference between semantics and pragmatics. Semantic interpretation involves understanding the literal meaning of words and sentences, as illustrated by the example 'Is John there?' where the semantic interpretation would be a yes/no question.

💡Pragmatics

Pragmatics is defined as the study of what people mean by the language they use. It is distinguished from semantics by focusing on the intended meaning in context, rather than the literal meaning. The video uses the same example of 'Is John there?' to show how pragmatics interprets the sentence as a request in a specific context, rather than a simple yes/no question.

💡Communication

Communication is the process of sharing information through language. The video script discusses language as a mode of communication, emphasizing the importance of both form and meaning in conveying messages effectively. Understanding communication is crucial to grasping the themes of semantics and pragmatics.

💡Form

In linguistics, 'form' refers to the physical or structural aspects of language, such as phonology, morphology, and syntax. The video script explains that studies focusing on form deal with the sound system, word construction, and sentence structure, which are essential for the physical realization of language.

💡Meaning

Meaning is the concept of the information or ideas that language conveys. The video script distinguishes between the study of meaning in language (semantics) and the study of the intended meaning in context (pragmatics). Meaning is central to the discussion of how language functions to convey information.

💡Phonology

Phonology is the study of the sound system of a language. It is part of the studies focusing on form and is mentioned in the video script as an important aspect of understanding the physical characteristics of language that contribute to its communicative function.

💡Morphology

Morphology is the study of how morphemes, the smallest units of meaning, are combined to form words. It is another aspect of form in linguistics that the video script discusses, highlighting its role in the construction of language.

💡Syntax

Syntax refers to the study of the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language. The video script includes syntax as a part of the studies focusing on form, emphasizing its importance in the structural aspect of language.

💡Interrogative

An interrogative sentence is a type of sentence that asks a question. The video script uses the example of 'Is John there?' to illustrate the interrogative form and how its semantic interpretation might differ from its pragmatic interpretation in different contexts.

💡Context

Context refers to the circumstances or setting in which something occurs. The video script uses the concept of context to explain how the pragmatic interpretation of a sentence can vary depending on the situation, as shown in the example where 'Is John there?' is used as a request rather than a question.

Highlights

Introduction to the course on semantics and pragmatics, with a focus on providing a general overview of language study.

Definition of language as a mode of communication consisting of form and meaning.

Distinction between studies focusing on form (phonology, morphology, and syntax) and studies focusing on meaning (semantics and pragmatics).

Explanation of phonology as the study of the sound system of a particular language.

Introduction to morphology, which deals with how morphemes are combined into words.

Overview of syntax, which focuses on the structure of phrases, clusters, and sentences.

Introduction to the study of meaning, focusing on semantics and pragmatics.

Definition of semantics as the study of meaning in language.

Definition of pragmatics as the study of what people mean by the language they use.

Illustration of the difference between semantics and pragmatics using the example sentence, 'Is John there?'

Explanation of the semantic interpretation of the sentence 'Is John there?' as a yes/no question.

Discussion of how the same sentence can have a different pragmatic interpretation depending on context, such as being used as a request.

Highlighting that the difference between semantics and pragmatics can be subtle and context-dependent.

Encouragement to refer to course materials for more details on the scope of semantics and pragmatics.

Closing remarks and invitation to watch the next video in the series.

Transcripts

hi everyone one of the courses that I

teach this semester is semantics and

pragmatics so as an introduction to the

cost in this video I'm going to talk

about a general overview of the study of

language with an emphasis on semantics

and pragmatics so let's start with

language language is a mode of

communication consisting of form and

meaning so in the study of language or

linguistic we usually draw a distinction

between the studies focusing on form and

the studies focusing on meaning

the study is focusing on form include

phonology morphology and syntax

basically phonology has to do with the

sound system of a particular language on

the other hand morphology deal with how

morphemes are combined into words and

sin half has to do with a structure of

precious clusters and sentences now

moving to this side the studies of

meaning studies of meaning include

semantics and pragmatics so these are

our concern here both of them semantics

and pragmatics have to do with meaning

in language but there is a difference

between them semantics is defi as the

study of meaning in language whilst

pragmatics is defined as the study of

what people mean by the language they

use

okay so from the definitions given here

I'm going to give an example to

illustrate the difference between them

I'm going to use a very simple

interactive sentence is John there so

clearly this is a sentence in an

interrogative form so the semantic

interpretation for this sentence where

we have the subject and auxiliary

inversion would be a yes/no questions

and so the answer to this question is

going to be something like yes he is or

no he isn't so let me put it down here

yes he is so this is what you get from

the semantics of the language but in

reality the sentence here is John there

could be used in many different contexts

and in some context is not going to be

interpreted as a yes/no question so is

John there

think about a situation where John is at

his office and you call him on his

office phone but then someone else pick

up the phone so you speak to that person

is John there by saying is John there

you no longer use this as the yes/no

question you actually use this as a

request right you want the person who

pick up the phone to get John to speak

to you

so you actually use this sentence the

interrogative one as a request and that

is the pragmatic side of the language so

I hope you can see the difference

between them anyway it is important to

keep in mind that in some cases the

difference is very subtle and it is hard

to draw a clear line between them so

this is pretty much over all of the

study of language with the emphasis on

semantics and pragmatics I hope you find

this video helpful

if you are interested in more details on

the scope of semantics and pragmatics

can be found in your course pack and

also other sources that I have suggested

in your cost pack thank you for watching

I am butea and I hope to see you in the

next one

bye