![Example from Raja Rao’s Kanthapura
• ‘Today,’ he says, ‘it will be the story of Siva and
Parvati.’ And Parvati in penance becomes the
country and Siva becomes heaven knows what!
‘Siva is the three-eyed,’ he says, ‘and Swaraj too is
three-eyed: Self-purification,Hindu-Moslem unity,
Khaddar.
• [Glosses: swaraj ‘self rule, self sufficiency,
independence’; khaddar ‘hand-woven cotton
cloth – a symbol of swaraj or
care, devotion and labour]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/introductiontopragmaticsanddiscourse-160828144616-170210090741/85/Introductiontopragmaticsanddiscourse-160828144616-56-320.jpg)
Introductiontopragmaticsanddiscourse 160828144616
- 1. Pragmatics and Discourse By Bushra Tabassum
- 2. Introduction • Till now we have concentrated on the main structural differences between New English's varieties. • But varieties of English also differ from each other in terms of the function. • As new structure in a particular New English may serve a new function or add a certain things which are not generally found in other varieties.
- 3. Cont... • In this chapter we will mainly describe the differences at the sentence level, • before proceeding to speech acts and genres found in New Englishes. • Such linguistic diversity generally reflects differences in social arrangements, cultural practices and historical processes to which language use is closely tied.
- 4. Conti.. • Main goal is to view that how the new English's have altered the syntactic and discourse of standard English to recreate maintain the varieties faithfully. There are some main points regarding pragmatics and discourse. • Pragmatics of syntactic forms • Pragmatics of discourse particles • Discourse across culture • Discourse context in new English literature
- 5. • Then if we talk about the Pragmatics of syntactic forms • In this we will see that different tag questions and auxiliries are traditionally used as discourse markers. • And we will see that how they are performing the pragmatic function.
- 6. • There are five pragmatic functions performed by tag questions. • The information • The confirmation • The punctuation tag • The temporary tag • The aggressive tag
- 7. • there is variation in the use of tag question across the varieties. • You are going home is’nt it ? • Tags are linguistics devices governed by politeness. • They play positive poltness function.
- 8. Auxillaries • Tags are not only the linguistics form found in new English's which exibits the different grammer of culture. • Auxilries may serve new new or additional pragmatic function. • Indian English use the model axillaries may to express positive politeness. • May is used in informal indian english. • Singapore eglish uses would as a polite form
- 9. Then we will see The pragmatics of discourse particles • Like there are some Discourse particles which are playing pragmatic function in new englishes. • Discourse particles such as • So, of, of course, actually, anyways, after all, by and large • They help the hearer to interpret the message,
- 10. Conti.. • There are many terms in different verities of English like in Singaporean and Indian English's are having there own discourse particles. • La and what are used in Singaporean English • They carried a wide range of function. • La occur with interactional acts such as requests, promises suggestions etc. • They share the element of solidarity and are absent where power is present. • And are also absnet in formal context of speech and writing.
- 11. • Only is used in Indian English to present the focus • It is used for emphasizing. • Indian English uses the pragmatic particle only.
- 12. Discourse across the culture • In this section we see that how culture is playing a role in different discourse patterns. • It is not the language but also the culture which leads to different discourse patterns.
- 13. Conti.. • If two persons are taking a one situation differently, then it reside in their culture context. That each interpret differently. • Difference in meaning is the different the result of difference in cultural resources used for linguistics interpretation. • dealing with language in use and the contexts in which it is used
- 14. Discourse context in new English's literature • If we will talk about the discourse context in new English literature we will see that • In earlier time most of the literature from the colonies struggle to copy metropolitan themes and style. • But in new varieties they represent different ways of saying ad meanings. • If we talk about the literary texts of Africa and Asia
- 15. Conti.. • Mostly writers are not representing the English but the native variety by means of English. • And they do not follow the exact structural pattern. • Like in literature local proverbs and local speech patterns are used
- 16. Pragmatics • dealing with language in use and the contexts in which it is used
- 17. What is Discourse? • Discourse is: • language above the sentence or above the clause • Johnson defines as : Discourse as an institutionalized way of speaking that determines not only what we say and how we say it, but also what we do not say which can be inferred from what we say.
- 18. Structural and functional definitions of discourse • Structural or textual definition of discourse: Discourse is a particular unit of language (above the sentence). • Functional definition of discourse: Discourse is a particular focus of language use.
- 19. Kinds of Discourse • Spoken Discourse: A spoken discourse is any discourse that is verbalized or spoken. • It is also generally referred to as speech. • Written Discourse: A written discourse is any discourse in which the thoughts of the producer or represented graphically on a surface such as paper and other media. • Interpersonal Discourse: Interpersonal discourse is the kind of discourse that involve two or more person . • One of the commonest form of interpersonal discourse is a conversation.
- 20. What is Pragmatics? • The branch of linguistics dealing with language in use and the contexts in which it is used • Including such matters as deixis • The taking of turns in conversation • Presupposition and • implicature
- 21. Pragmatics Implicature: It is an additional conveyed meaning called an implicature. Two types of implicatures: • Conventional implicatures: do not require any particular context in order to be understood. • Conversational implicatures: are context dependant what is implied varies according to the context of an utterance.
- 22. Pragmatics • There are four conversational maxims which help us to realize the implicit meaning if an utterance: • Maxim of Quantity: One of the maxims in which the speaker has to be neither more nor less informative than is necessary. • Not more not less information. • Maxim of Quality: Do not say what you believe to be false. Do not say something if you lack adequate evidence.
- 23. Pragmatics • Maxim of Relation: Be relative. One of the maxim in which the speaker has to be relevant. • Maxim of Manner: One of the maxim in which the speaker is to be clear, brief and orderly.
- 24. Deixis pointing via language using a deictic expression e.g “this” and “here” Person Deixis: Forms used to point to people e.g “me” and “you” Spatial Deixis: Forms used to point to location e.g “here” and “there” Temporal Deixis: Forms used to point to location in time e.g “now” and “then”
- 25. Presupposition • Something the speaker assumes to be the case prior to making an utterance. • To be assumed by the speaker to be already known to the addressee. • For Example: • The King of France is bald. • The King of France is not bald. • Is the King of France bald? • If the King of France is bald, he should wear a hat in the winter.
- 26. Tag Questions • Tags have been traditionally analysed as utterance-final discourse markers • In standard English tag questions are formed by a rule which inserts a pronominal copy of the subject after a appropriate model auxiliary for example • Maria said she will come today, didn’t she?
- 27. Cont... • There are difference forms of tags e.g canonical tags and invariant tags • Simple tags are called canonical tags e.g isn’t it • Invariant tags are such as isn’t that so? Or don’t you think? • Tags express certain attitude of speakers towards what is being said in the main clause
- 28. pragmatic functions of tag questions • Algeo identifies five pragmatic functions of tag questions in English • Informational tags (used to make a genuine request for information) • Confirmatory tags (also called facilitative tag, use to invite agreement from hearer) • Punctuation tags (used for emphasis)
- 29. Cont... • Peremptory tags (used to end a discussion) • The aggressive tags (openly hostile) • Informational tag and Confirmatory tags show politeness • Punctuation, Peremptory and aggressive tags show impoliteness
- 30. Cont... • There is variation in the use of tag questions across Englishes • In Indian English there are two types of syntactic variants • One exhibits the syntax of canonical tags and the other does not
- 31. Undifferentiated tags • Undifferentiated tags signals important social meaning • These tags play an important pragmatic role in the Indian English speech community • These tags are linguistic devices governed by the politeness principle of non-imposition • They serve positive politeness functions
- 32. Cont.. • For example; • Unassertive/informal situation • They said they will be here, isn’t it? • Assertive/formal • They said they will be here, didn’t they?
- 33. Cont... • Undifferentiated tags are common in new Englishes • In Hong Kong English they are often used when seeking confirmation and involvement; mainly positive politeness functions • Speakers of colloquial Singapore English tags do not vary as they do in standard verities
- 34. Cont.. • They use either the tag isn’t it or is it • There is a research conducted in 1994 in Singapore and asked by the students that “is it” can be used in the place of “isn’t it” or not and the sentence was, you want go Singapore swing, is it? • They answered that it is used
- 36. Discourse Discourse – written and spoken Discourse Speaker/ writer Hearer/ reader Context
- 37. Definitions of ‘discourse’ (a) A set of terms, metaphors, allusions, ways of talking, references and so on, which constitute an object (b) A to-and-fro of exchanges in talk (or text) that performs social actions
- 38. Objects of discourse • Discourse’ refers to any utterance which is • meaningful. • These texts can be: • - written texts • - oral texts (‘speech’/’talk’) • - mixed written/oral texts (e.g. Internet chat) • Discourse does not depend on the size of a text
- 39. culture • Culture signifies how an individual thinks, acts and feels as member of a group and in relation to other members of that same group. • Thus, a circle of friends, or a business organization is defined by its own unique culture of attitude and relationship. • In this sense,cultures are differentiated by their purpose, values, membership, history, etc.
- 40. Discourse across Culture • English discourse across cultures is that there is a strong relationship between the forms of English and its speaker s’perceptions of reality and the nature of their cultural institutions ( Kachru). • It is the cultural context not English language which leads to different discourse patterns.(kachru)
- 41. Conti… The interactional exchange, between a Chinese businessman and an American businessman with the same business interests, exemplifies the role played by the context of culture . • Mr Richardson (American businessman) • Mr Chu (Chinese businessman)
- 42. Conti.. • Mr Richardson: By the way, I’m Andrew Richardson. My friends • call me Andy. This is my business card. • Mr Chu: I am David Chu. Pleased to meet you ,Mr Richardson. This is my card. • Mr Richardson: No, no. Call me Andy. I think we’ll be doing a lot • of business together. • Mr Chu: Yes, I hope so.
- 43. Conti.. They left the exchange with very different impressions of the situation: Mr Richardson was “pleased” that he got off to a good start, whereas Mr Chu was “uncomfortable” and feels that he will have difficulty working with Mr Richardson. • The interpretation of exchange different because of their different cultural context.
- 44. Conti.. • Mr Richardson uses the given name, Hon-fai, as an involvement strategy of politeness in a bid to establish solidarity. • But Mr Richardson does not know is that the Chinese have a complex structure of names, which depends on situations and relationships; in initial business relationships, the given name is never used, especially by a stranger.
- 45. Conti.. • Mr Chu thus feels quite uncomfortable. He instead prefers to use independence strategies of politeness, realised as the address form of Title-Family Name. • The difference in meaning in the above exchange, results from differences in cultural resources used for linguistic interpretation.
- 46. Conti.. • Variety of the English is not only influenced by the conventions of native language and culture but also have the knowledge of addresses language and culture.
- 47. Discourse context in new english literature
- 48. Discourse context • Discourse: any instance of language use. • context: the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea. • The use of language in the relationship between the speaker and the utterance, on the particular occasion of use.
- 49. New English literature • The study of New English Literatures is concerned with colonial and postcolonial writing which emerged in former British colonies such as: parts of Africa, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Caribbean countries, India, Malaysia, Malta, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, islands in the South Pacific, and Sri Lanka
- 50. Discourse context in new english literature • Earlier literature was with metropolitan style and theme. • Topic of new English literature is vast. • It represents different ways of saying and meaning.
- 51. Conti.. • literary texts do not always represent the exact structural patterns of New English speech. Rather they are authorial representations of such speech, which may vary in accuracy and degree of literary license taken. • some authors do not intend to represent English but the indigenous language(s) of a territory via the medium of English.
- 52. Conti.. • The other strategic difference in organizational design of literary texts in New Englishes lies in the linguistic transfer from mother tongue patterns. • “Ayah Shouts: put him down at once, oye, badmash!”………………………………... • Duffa ho! Go! She says”………………………………………………………………. • Who is going to rule once we get swaraj?”……………………………………………
- 53. Example discussed by Achebe • I want one of my sons to join these people and be my eyes there. If there is nothing in it you will come back. But if there is something then you will bring back my share. The world is like a Mask, dancing. If you want to see it well, you do not stand in one place. My spirit tells me that those who do not befriend the white man today will be saying ‘had we known’ tomorrow. • I am sending you as my representative among those people – just to be on the safe side in case the new religion develops. One has to move with the times or one is left behind. I have a hunch that those who fail to come to terms with the white man may well regret the lack of foresight.
- 54. Conti.. • The first passage expresses the local rural sensibilities by the use of local proverbs and other culture-bound speech patterns, expressing a local Nigerian discoursal identity. • Achebe concludes that though the material is the same, ‘the form of the first is in character, and the other is not’.
- 55. Conti.. • Kachru (1986) notes that the production of difference in English discourse across cultures has more to do with the use of native similes and metaphors, the translation (‘transcreation’) of proverbs and idioms, the use of culturally dependent speech styles and the use of syntactic devices.
- 56. Example from Raja Rao’s Kanthapura • ‘Today,’ he says, ‘it will be the story of Siva and Parvati.’ And Parvati in penance becomes the country and Siva becomes heaven knows what! ‘Siva is the three-eyed,’ he says, ‘and Swaraj too is three-eyed: Self-purification,Hindu-Moslem unity, Khaddar. • [Glosses: swaraj ‘self rule, self sufficiency, independence’; khaddar ‘hand-woven cotton cloth – a symbol of swaraj or care, devotion and labour]
- 57. Conti.. • literary creativity in English discourse across cultures takes different structural-textual forms • because literary texts as discourse reflect the underlying thought patterns, social norms, cultural practices, attitudes and values of the people writing, as well as represented in, the texts. • The connection between text and context not only results in cultural authenticity, but also enables a new way of meaning making, of representation that is different from traditional canons;
- 58. • Creative writers in experimenting with english language draw n their native sensibilities and inherited form of culturally authorize discourse patterns this is not always appreciated by outside readers and critics.