The phonetic shape of the verb arrive, which is derived from the Middle English arīve(n) and further from the French verb arriver, has changed throughout different periods. We can assume that the vowel of the first syllable /a/ was reduced first to [e] and then to [ə] as the syllable is unstressed. This qualitative vowel change is a regular unconditioned change which, in this case, most likely
took place in the early Middle English period. In the Great Vowel Shift, the phonetic shape changed further as the long middle syllable was diphthongised to [ʌɪ] in an unconditioned change. Furthermore, a sporadic change can be identified as the final sound segment was lost, also called apocope.
Table of Contents
3. Semantics and sound change
4. Pragmatics
Objectives and Topics
The work examines linguistic developments within the English language, focusing on both diachronic semantic shifts and the application of historical pragmatics to literary texts. The primary objective is to analyze how phonetic and semantic changes occur over time and how pragmatic markers and speech acts function within the context of Early Modern English drama.
- Phonetic evolution and sound change mechanisms (apocope, syncope, diphthongisation).
- Semantic shifting processes including generalisation, specification, and amelioration.
- Pragmatic analysis of Early Modern English address forms and politeness strategies.
- The function of speech acts and pragmatic markers in theatrical dialogue.
Excerpt from the Book
4 Pragmatics
Shakespeare's comedy "The Twelfth Night" can be classified as a theatre play and accordingly assigned to the literary genre of drama. As the deviations at the pragamtic level are one of the main characteristics of the drama, the play does not seem to be useful for pragmatic research in general. In addition, the thetre piece contains a certain degree of conceptual orality, which means that the originally written text displays several features of the spoken language, which makes sense as the text is to be performed on stage. Then again, "The Twelfth Night" offers many examples of address forms, politeness levels, speech acts and pragmatic markers which were used during the time the play was written in, the period of Early Modern English. As both Jacobs & Jucker (1995) and Brinton (2001) defined the respective category of historical pragmatic research, plays like Shakespeare's comedy became essential for the study of the discourse- pragmatic features in one particular historical period.
Summary of Chapters
3. Semantics and sound change: This chapter analyzes how specific English words have evolved over time through phonetic sound changes and shifts in their semantic meaning or social evaluation.
4. Pragmatics: This chapter studies the pragmatic features of Shakespeare's "The Twelfth Night," specifically examining address forms, politeness strategies, and the use of pragmatic markers in Early Modern English.
Keywords
Historical linguistics, semantics, sound change, phonetics, pragmatics, Early Modern English, Shakespeare, address forms, politeness, speech acts, pragmatic markers, diachronic analysis, etymology, metonymy, conceptual orality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental scope of this work?
The work explores the evolution of the English language through two distinct lenses: the diachronic analysis of semantic and phonetic shifts in vocabulary, and the application of pragmatic theory to dramaturgical texts.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The text focuses on lexical history, including phonetic processes like apocope and syncope, as well as historical pragmatics, covering politeness principles and discourse markers during the Early Modern English period.
What is the primary objective of the research?
The objective is to document how language changes at both the phonetic level—through shifts like the Great Vowel Shift—and the pragmatic level—through social usage and interactional dynamics in literature.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses historical linguistic analysis to trace etymological roots and phonetic development, alongside pragmatic discourse analysis to evaluate speech acts and interactional strategies within dramatic texts.
What is addressed in the main body of the work?
The main body examines the specific word histories of terms like "arrive," "board," "business," and "frightfully," followed by an in-depth pragmatic case study of Shakespeare's "The Twelfth Night."
Which keywords best characterize the research?
Key terms include historical phonology, semantic shift, Early Modern English pragmatics, and theatrical discourse analysis.
How does the phonetic development of "churl" differ between British and American English?
The text highlights that British English lost the post-vocalic /r/, whereas it is retained in American English, and notes differences in vowel quality development due to this rhoticity.
What is the significance of the usage of "thou" in "The Twelfth Night"?
The author explains that while "thou" was typically reserved for asymmetrical status relations, its use by the clown in the play serves as a stylistic device to create comedic irony rather than reflecting standard social protocols of the era.
How are pragmatic markers evaluated in the provided excerpts?
Pragmatic markers like "is it," "what you will," and "alas" are analyzed based on their metalinguistic, textual, and ideational functions within the literary dialogue.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2022, Semantics and Pragmatics , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1511793
