Fundamentals of Communication and Linguistic Concepts

Understanding Communication

Communication is the exchange of knowledge and experiences between people, facilitated through different languages.

Elements of Communication

Communication is studied as a process that necessarily involves the following elements:

  • Sender (or Transmitter): The entity that encodes and delivers the message.
  • Receiver: The recipient of the message, who decodes and interprets it.
  • Message: The information transmitted, the specific language that reaches the receiver.
  • Channel: The physical
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Foundations of Pragmatics: Language, Context, and Communication

This document delves into the core concepts and theories of pragmatics, the branch of linguistics that studies meaning in context and language use in real-world situations. It covers key definitions, influential schools of thought, and major theories such as Speech Act Theory, Reference and Deixis, (Im)politeness, and Relevance Theory.

Defining Pragmatics: Cognition, Context, and Culture

What is Pragmatics?

  • Definition: A branch of linguistics that studies meaning in context and language use in real
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Understanding Expository Text: Definition, Types, and Structure

Expository Text: Definition and Characteristics

The expository text aims to inform and expand knowledge on a specific topic. Its primary intention is didactic: to facilitate understanding of an idea or concept and to broaden the reader’s knowledge. An expository text should present information in an orderly, clear, and objective manner, emphasizing the referential function. The author assumes the reader has some prior knowledge of the subject matter.

Examples of expository texts include specialized

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Understanding Relevance Theory: Visual Metaphors & Communication

Relevance Theory and Communication

1) Steps and Comprehension According to Relevance Theory

Relevance Theory is a pragmatic theory within cognitive pragmatics. Its main objective is to identify the underlying mechanisms in human psychology that explain how humans communicate. Comprehension, according to Relevance Theory, involves answering three key questions to identify the speaker’s meanings:

  • What was the intended explicit context?
  • What was the intended implicit context?
  • What was the intended context
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Pragmatics: Illocutionary Acts, Implicature, and Politeness

Direct vs. Indirect Illocutions

The direct illocution of an utterance is indicated by a literal reading of its grammatical form and vocabulary. The indirect illocution is any further illocution or meaning the utterance may have beyond the literal interpretation.

Searle’s Five Categories of Illocutionary Acts

Searle categorized illocutionary acts into five types:

  1. Assertives: Speech acts that commit a speaker to the truth of the expressed proposition (e.g., stating, asserting).
  2. Directives: Speech acts
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Key Elements for Analyzing Text Structure and Meaning

Understanding Text Analysis Elements

Authorial Voice and Subjectivity in Texts

Identifying the author’s stance is crucial. Look for:

  • Expertise: Is the author knowledgeable (e.g., a journalist, specialist)? This is often shown through data, references, and thoughtful reflections.
  • First-Person Perspective: The use of first-person verbs (e.g., “I think”), pronouns (e.g., “my”), and determiners indicates a personal viewpoint.
  • Subjectivity Markers: Opinion pieces explicitly show the author’s attitude through:
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