Discouse and Pragmatics

I would like to share part of the interesting subject that I have learnt this semester. The subject is called “Discourse and Pragmatics”. This is an interesting subject that I started to be observant and analytical. This is a language related subject and that means this subject discusses language and its relation with other aspects that have closed relationship with language. It becomes more fascinating when you start to analyze the language used in every day communication and the language choice used in social life. I will try to make it as simple as possible so that it is understandable.

Before I go into details, I am sure that most of you might wonder what discourse means and what pragmatics means. Basically, discourse means the process of language in use whereas pragmatics means the study of linguistic forms and the users of these forms. In other words, it is something to do with how language works in our daily communication as well as how language used to imply meanings.

There are five models that have been done by linguists and anthropologists. I am not going to elaborate on the theories but I will briefly state what the models are: Speaking Grid, Ethnography of communication, Speech Act Theory, Conversational Analysis (CA) and Discourse Model (DA).

Language is a part of culture sharing. When you are interacting with other participants or interlocutors, you are actually sharing your cultures with them. You actually exchange your cultural values with your friends and at the same time; gain what they try to bring up in the social setting itself. However, linguistic realizations are culturally bound. For example, in India, the expressive speech act of “praising” and “congratulating” a person on their appearance can be realised by the words “Wow, how fat you are!” because weight is an indicator of prosperity and health. Try and see how your friend reacts if you express that here?

In the interaction, we tend to share many things without realizing it. The talk that we are having in the interaction is, in fact, unscripted or what we call spontaneous. There are two types of acts that I learnt during social communication in the social setting – Direct and indirect Speech Acts. Let me give you some examples:

You are in the bus and the bus is very crowded. Someone shouted at you,“You are stepping on my foot!” What will you say or do? Will you say “Oh yes, I’m stepping on your foot.” And you are still stepping on her/his foot. Or you step backward and say,” sorry”? This is what we call Indirect Speech Act. This is a simple example that I can elicit from our daily experience.

Another example is that:
A guy is trying to ask a girl out for a date.
A: I just bought two movie tickets. I’m thinking to watch a movie tonight but…I will be alone
B: Oh I see.
A: So what do you think I can do with the other ticket?
B: I can go with you.
A: Great! I will pick up at 8pm.
Read the same situation but different example below:
A: I just bought two movie tickets. I’m thinking to watch a movie tonight but…
I will be alone.
B: Oh I see.
A: So what do you think I can do with the other ticket?
B: (Long pause) maybe you can go with your sister.
A: (Upset looks) Ok…

Language is very powerful. We often use language to imply meaning instead of understanding the surface meaning. The words that we use do not serve to convey the real meaning. Therefore, language is indeed powerful if the intentional meaning is read and could be understood. Another interesting fact is that either short pause or long pause is full of meanings. The hearer tends to have long pause when he or she is thinking what to say or trying to rephrase what he or she wanted to say or another reason could be he or she wanted to reject the speaker’s invitation but he or she could not find a right word to convey his or her intention.


So guys and girls, be smart in your every day communication. Language is a tool to serve many purposes in your every day communication and it can kill!

How can it kill?

“I love you”
“Here is my heart and soul. Will you make a recipe of happiness of it?”
“My, that finger of yours looks rather bare…”

I guess you know better than I do.