Learning Objectives
5 objectives- Understand the fundamental concepts and distinctions between semantics and pragmatics.
- Analyze word and sentence meaning, including semantic relations and compositionality.
- Examine how meaning is conveyed beyond literal language through speech acts and conversational implicature.
- Explore the role of politeness and cultural factors in pragmatic communication.
- Investigate applications of semantics and pragmatics in real-world contexts such as advertising and cross-cultural communication.
Content Outline
PreviewUnit 2563: Semantics and Pragmatics
1. Introduction to Semantics and Pragmatics
- Definition and scope of semantics
- Definition and scope of pragmatics
- Key differences between semantics and pragmatics
- Importance of studying meaning in language
2. Semantics: Word Meaning
2.1 Lexical Semantics
- How words acquire meaning
- Sense vs. reference
2.2 Word Sense
- Polysemy: multiple related meanings
- Homonymy: multiple unrelated meanings
2.3 Semantic Relations Between Words
- Synonymy
- Antonymy
- Hyponymy and hypernymy
- Meronymy
3. Semantics: Sentence Meaning
3.1 Compositionality
- How sentence meaning is built from word meanings
3.2 Truth Conditions
- Definition and role in sentence meaning
- Examples
3.3 Entailment
- Concept and examples
3.4 Presupposition
- Definition and triggers
- Distinction from entailment
3.5 Implicature
- Introduction to implicature within semantics
4. Pragmatics: Speech Acts
- Definition of speech acts
- Types of speech acts:
- Assertions
- Questions
- Requests
- Directives
- Contextual factors influencing speech act performance
5. Pragmatics: Conversational Implicature
- Going beyond literal meaning
- Grice’s Cooperative Principle
- The four conversational maxims:
- Quantity
- Quality
- Relation
- Manner
- Examples and analysis of implicature in conversation
6. Pragmatics: Politeness Theory
- Concept of face and face-threatening acts
- Positive and negative politeness strategies
- Cultural variations in politeness
- Examples of politeness strategies in language use
7. Semantics and Pragmatics in Cross-Cultural Communication
- Impact of cultural differences on meaning interpretation
- Role of context, norms, and conventions
- Potential misunderstandings and strategies for effective communication
8. Semantics and Pragmatics in Advertising
- Language as a persuasive tool
- Use of semantic strategies: connotations and associations
- Pragmatic strategies: implicature and speech acts in ads
- Case studies of advertising language
9. Semantic Change and Pragmatic Shift
- Mechanisms of semantic change over time
- Examples of semantic broadening, narrowing, amelioration, pejoration
- Pragmatic shift: adapting communication strategies in context
- Relationship between semantic change and pragmatic shift
Unlock the full outline
Get the complete content outline, learning outcomes and assessment methods for Semantics And Pragmatics.
KSh 20 one-off, or included with a plan
Learning Outcomes
Unlock the outline above to see learning outcomes.
Assessment Methods
Unlock the outline above to see assessment methods.