LINGUISTIC VS.

EXTRALINGUAL CONTEXTS
ELEC 4: STYLISTICS AND DISCOURSE

● Linguistic Context
● Types of Linguistic Context
● Exralingual Context

LINGUISTIC CONTEXT
- Is the encirclement of a language unit by other language units in speech. Such as
encirclement makes the meaning of the unit clear and unambiguous. It is especially
important in polysemantic words (run, bat, crane, and match).
- This includes about the grammatical structure of a sentence, the words and phrases
that surround a particular word, and the meaning of those words and phrases in
relation to each other.

Types of Linguistic Context

1. Microcontext is the context of a single utterance (sentence).

Example:
Sentence: “I need to change the battery in my watch.”
The microcontext of the word battery in the sentence is that it
refers to small, portable power source used to power electronic
devices, such as watches.

2. Macrocontext is the context of a paragraph in a text.

Example:
Paragraph: “Despite being a common affliction, anxiety can be
incrediblydebilitating for those who experience it. It can lead to a
range ofsymptoms, including sweating, heart palpitations, and
difficultyconcentrating. Furthermore, anxiety can have a
significant impact on aperson's quality of life, affecting their
ability to work, maintainrelationships, and engage in everyday
activities. Fortunately, there aremany effective treatments
available for anxiety, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and
medication.”
In this example, the macrocontext would be the larger context
of the entire text that the paragraph is a part of, such as a book,
article, orreport. The paragraph is discussing the topic of anxiety, its
symptoms,and its impact on a person's life, and is likely part of a
larger discussionabout mental health. The macrocontext is important
 for understanding theoverall purpose and message of the text as a
whole.

3. Megacontext is the context of a book chapter, a story or a whole book.

Example:
The novel by Harper Lee called, “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
The megacontext would be the entire novel, which includes
variousstorylines, characters, and themes. The events that occur in
each chapter build upon each other, and the characters' actions and
motivations areshaped by the events that occur throughout the novel.
To fully understandand appreciate the novel, one must consider the
megacontext, whichencompasses the entire narrative and its themes.

EXTRALINGUAL CONTEXT
- An extralingual (situational) context is formed by extralingual conditions in which
communication takes place.
- It refers to the non-linguistic factors that influence the meaning and interpretation of
messages.

Two Factors of Extralingual Context:

1. Physical Context refers to the tangible and observable conditions in which
communication takes place.
2. Abstract Context refers to the intangible and less observable factors that
influence communication. This can include temporal or chronological
context, which refers to the time and sequence in which events occur.
- Psychological Context is another form of abstract context that refers
to the emotional and cognitive state of the participants in the
conversation.

Linguistic and extralingual context are both important aspects of communication.

Linguistic context refers to the words and language used to convey a message, while
extralingual context refers to the non-linguistic factors that influence communication,such as
the physical or abstract conditions in which communication takes place. Inorder to effectively
communicate, it is important to consider both linguistic andextralingual context. This means
paying attention not only to the words being used, butalso to the environment in which
communication takes place and the nonverbal cues being given.

References:
https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/university-of-southern-mindanao/stylistic-and-discourse-development/linguistic-vs-extralingual-cont
exts, Linguistic vs. Extralingual Context