3.2.

3 Semantics, Pragmatics and

Discourse Analysis
OBJECTIVES
You will understand:
1. The terminology and concepts of semantics, pragmatics and
discourse analysis, which are fields of linguistics that deal with
how meaning is represented.

You will be able to:

1. Apply your general understanding of semantics, pragmatics
and discourse analysis to your teaching.

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute

 3.2.3 Semantics, Pragmatics and
Discourse Analysis
Semantics is the study of the meaning of words, word
combinations and sentences. It includes looking at features that
complete a meaning, at the roles that different words play
within sentences, and at the different types of relationships that
exist between words.

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute

 3.2.3 Semantics, Pragmatics and
Discourse Analysis
Pragmatics is the study of how meaning is transmitted or
conveyed through utterances that take place in a particular
context. Pragmatics looks at the meaning that is intended, given
all of the contextual information that may or may not be shared
by the people communicating, including the knowledge and
beliefs of the speaker and the relationship between the speaker
and the receiver.

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute

 3.2.3 Semantics, Pragmatics and
Discourse Analysis
Discourse analysis is the study of how language is used within
specific spoken or written texts. It looks at the meaning that is
conveyed when sentences are put together to form larger texts
beyond the sentence level, (e.g. spoken dialogues, conversations
or speeches, and different written documents).

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute

 3.2.3 Semantics, Pragmatics and
Discourse Analysis
Pragmatics refers to intended, sometimes hidden meaning often
communicated in non-linguistic ways. This includes background
beliefs and attitudes of speaker and audience, as well as the
understanding of the context of an utterance and knowledge of
how language can be used for various purposes, (O’Grady, p.
626).

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute

 3.2.3 Semantics, Pragmatics and
Discourse Analysis
Context contributes to comprehension in different ways. With
linguistic context, surrounding words give clues to meaning.
Physical context also aids comprehension, while time and place
provide clues about a speaker’s intended meaning.
Speech acts are actions like asking questions, commanding,
requesting and informing. A direct speech act is an utterance
whose intended meaning corresponds to its form. For instance,
“Can you speak German?” is an interrogative form requesting
information about ability.
Compare this with an indirect speech act. “Can you answer the
phone?” appears to be a question of ability but is simply a polite
way of issuing an imperative.
*What does the following mean?
“You left your dishes in the sink.”
ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute
 3.2.3 Semantics, Pragmatics and
Discourse Analysis
Deixis refers to the words in a language that cannot be
understood unless the context of the utterance is known.
Pronouns are deictic, as are words like this, that, here, there,
tomorrow, etc. In order to understand what specifically is being
spoken about, the listener needs to know who the speaker is and
what his or her terms of reference are.
The sentence “We will finish it next week, because he wasn’t
here today” has no pragmatic meaning unless the listener knows
the physical context.
Deixis demonstrates the difference between semantics and
pragmatics: in the sentence above, we may know what each
word means (semantics), but we will not understand who is
finishing what, and when, unless we know the context.

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute

 3.2.3 Semantics, Pragmatics and
Discourse Analysis
Pragmatics places a lot of importance on the context within
which something is said. For each sentence, think of at least two
different meanings the sentence could have, depending upon the
context in which it is said.

1. Nice.
2. He is a real winner.
3. It’s way too hot for me.
4. Here is the change.

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute

 3.2.3 Semantics, Pragmatics and
Discourse Analysis
Inference is the process by which listeners use supplementary
information to link what was said to what was meant.
Consider Yule’s examples of inference, (p.131). A waiter might
ask his coworker, “Where’s the salad sitting?”, and a linguistics
student might ask his classmate, “Can I look at your Chomsky?”
In these examples the listeners understand that the names of
things can refer to people, and the names of people can refer to
things.

Presupposition refers to something that the speaker believes is

either true or already known by the audience.

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute

 3.2.3 Semantics, Pragmatics and
Discourse Analysis

Discourse analysis is a study of how meaning is communicated

beyond the sentence level: when two or more sentences are put
together into a conversation, a speech or a piece of writing.
Two concepts are important to an understanding of discourse
analysis: cohesion and coherence.

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute

 3.2.3 Semantics, Pragmatics and
Discourse Analysis
Cohesion refers to language that is used to tie the conversation,
speech or writing together so that it flows smoothly. Cohesion
provides clues about the structure of the discourse. Examples of
tools for cohesion include: the use of pronouns to refer to nouns
already mentioned in a previous sentence; the use of connecting
words such as ‘next’, ‘then’, and ‘so’; and the repetition of key
words.

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute

 3.2.3 Semantics, Pragmatics and
Discourse Analysis
Coherence refers to how the unity of a piece of discourse is produced by
its underlying structure. For example, a recipe that clearly follows the
accepted format or structure of a recipe will be coherent. A recipe written
in a way that does NOT follow the accepted format or structure of a recipe
will be Incoherent.

Part of discourse analysis involves analyzing conversations. A key point of

analysis is how the people in the conversation take turns speaking. There
are different linguistic and non-linguistic cues that can be used for the
speakers to take turns. These cues are understood by the speakers.

*What can happen if these cues are unknown, misunderstood, or ignored?  

 
ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute
 3.2.3 Semantics, Pragmatics and
Discourse Analysis
Discourse analysis makes use of scripts to outline accepted actions that will be
taken at specific points in time within the discourse.

For example, a script for inviting someone to a party might look something like this:
Person A: Are you doing anything on Saturday night? I am having a get together at my
house. It would be great if you could come. (issuing the invitation)
Person B: That sounds like fun. What time? (asking for more information)
Person A: Eight o’clock. (providing more information)
Person B: Who else is coming? (asking for more information)
Person A: About ten people from our class (providing more information)
Person B: Can I bring anything? (offering to contribute)
Person A: If you could bring a salad that would be great. (suggesting a contribution)
Person B: I’ll see you on Saturday then! Thanks again! (closing off the conversation)

*What would you include in a script for ordering food in a restaurant? What accepted
actions would you note, and when?
ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute
 3.2.3 Semantics, Pragmatics and
Discourse Analysis
What is a strategy you might use in order to teach your
students how to have a cohesive conversation with a friend
to catch up on news?

What is a strategy you might use in order to teach your

students how to write a coherent paragraph to introduce
themselves?

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute

 3.2.3 Semantics, Pragmatics and
Discourse Analysis
• Complete Question 2 - submit via email to
paula@llinstitute.com (preferred) or printed and handed in.

ACE TESOL Diploma Program – London Language Institute