NATIONAL AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSITY OF

NICARAGUA Aluu!
Hi!
RUBEN DARIO CAMPUS
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND LANGUAGE Salut!

Factors ininaTESOL
Master

sentence Jambo!

interpretation Oi!

Wilmer F. Zambrana
 Hi!
Factors in a sentence interpretation

1- The cultural Component

¡Hola!

2- The listener and the Speaker

3- Role of beliefs and attitudes Oi!

4- Presupposition
 Factors in a sentence interpretation
The cultural Component
Hi! Each language has its own
Ni hao! semantic network that differs from
other languages and, therefore,
each linguistic group literally
thinks differently from the others.
(Pozzo 2011)

L1 / L2 Ethical Level
the rules and traditions for their proper
Linguistic Identity Cultural Level and effective use in verbal and
nonverbal behavior
Personal Level
Factors in a sentence interpretation
The cultural Component
I don’t need pants.
Both speakers have I am almost finish
shopping. I’ll just look
Lets look for a pair of
a different for some pants to you
trousers. That’s what
I need right now
conception of the
words “pants” and
“trousers”
Factors in a sentence interpretation
The cultural Component
Sorry!
The word “Sorry” may
be understood
differently.
The British may think that
“sorry” means Move
away. American
The American may think
that “sorry” is apologetic. British
Factors in a sentence interpretation
The listener and the Speaker
Ok! You are
The speaker may omit information
Call me a needed to understand and avoid
taxi please! a taxi!
semantic ambiguity

The Listener may no be able to make sense of

meaning it in the current context

Communication requires considerable effort to facilitate and

reach a shared understanding between interlocutors.
(Stadler, 2013)
Factors in a sentence interpretation
The listener and the Speaker
Sources of Misinterpretation
between Listener and Speaker

 Interacting in a different language/culture

 Processing a previous utterance
 Interpretation of intonational patterns.

“The chicken is ready to eat”  The Sense in the current context

 Lack of the cultural knowledge
(Bou-Franch, 2002)
Factors in a sentence interpretation
Role of beliefs and attitudes

Who does the second clause refer to?

“The judge denied the prisoner’s request because he was cautious”

“The judge denied the prisoner’s request because he was cautious”

“The judge denied the prisoner’s request because he was

dangerous.”
Factors in a sentence interpretation ¡Hola!
Presuppositions
We may take things for granted and assume that others
involved in the context do the same

“Clare has stopped smoking” (She used to smoke)

“my dog ate my bag” (I have a dog, I had a bag)

“I wish I had study Medicine” (I did not study medicine)

 Reference
[1] Bou-Franch, P. (2002). MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND UNOFFICIAL KNOWLEDGE IN
INSTITUTIONAL DISCOURSE. Retrieved from
https://www.uv.es/~boup/PDF/Misunderstanding.pdf

[2] Pozzo, M. I. (2011). CULTURAS Y LENGUAS: LA IMPRONTA CULTURAL EN LA

INTERPRETACIÓN LINGÜÍSTICA. Retrieved from ResearchGate:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282049594_CULTURAS_Y_LENG
UAS_LA_IMPRONTA_CULTURAL_EN_LA_INTERPRETACION_LINGUISTICA

[3] Stadler, S. A. (2013). Speaker or listener or speaker and listener. Retrieved from
https://benjamins.com/catalog/ld.3.2.02sta