CHAPTER 2

• Speakers or writers rely on shared assumptions and expectations as they try to communicate.
• Context can either be linguistic or physical.
• The linguistic context (otherwise referred to as co-text) of word is the set of other words used in the same phrase or sentence.
• Words can be more generally interpreted based on physical context.
• We have a more certain interpretation of what it means as influenced by physical location.
• Speech acts describe "the ways in which people carry out specific social functions."
• Speech acts consists of different strategies that speakers employ to relay their intended meaning, and the choice of specific techniques depends on various socicultural factors such as social distance, social status, and the nature of the speech act itself.
• By pronouncing performative sentences (which have to be said by the right person in the right context), the speaker is performing an action
• Politeness, in general, has to do with being tactful, modest, and nice to other people.
• In linguistic politeness, the most relevant concept is that of "face" which is also known as one's public self-image
• A face-threatening act is one that represents a threat to another person's self-image, whereas a face-saving act is one that lessens the possible threat to another's face.
• Locution refers to the utterance act.
• Illocution refers to the speaker's intention of what is to be accomplised by the speech act.
• Certain conventions tell us that a particular locution probably has a particular force. People don't use language inappropriately, or they get into trouble, or the act may be interpreted as invalid.
• Representatives – assertions, statements, claims, hypotheses, descriptions, suggestions
• Commissives – promises, oaths, pledges, threats, vows
• Directives – commands, requests, challenges, invitations, orders, summons, dares
• Declarations – blessings, firings, baptisms, arrests, marrying, juridical speech acts such as sentencings, declaring out of order
• Expressives – speech acts that make assessments of psychological states or attitudes: greetings, apologies, congratulations, condolences, thanksgivings
• Verdictives – rankings, assessments, appraising, condoning (combinations such as representational declarations: You're out!)
• The Cooperative Principle There is unspoken agreement that people will cooperate in communicating with each other, and speakers rely on this agreement.
• quantity - say neither more nor less is required
• quality - say only what you believe to be the truth.
• relevance - say only what is appropriate for the topic.
• manner - be brief, concise, and clear