{"id":1138,"date":"2020-05-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-26T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/?p=1138"},"modified":"2021-05-13T02:50:05","modified_gmt":"2021-05-13T02:50:05","slug":"pragmatics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-conversation\/pragmatics\/","title":{"rendered":"Pragmatics \u2014 aka \"Why We Just Don\u2019t Say It That Way\""},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-conversation\/pragmatics\/#What_is_Pragmatics\" >What is Pragmatics?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-conversation\/pragmatics\/#Reprogramming_Our_Grammar_Minds\" >Reprogramming Our Grammar Minds<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-conversation\/pragmatics\/#Applying_Pragmatics_To_Feedback\" >Applying Pragmatics To Feedback<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/teaching-conversation\/pragmatics\/#%F0%9F%91%8B_Thats_it_for_now\" >\ud83d\udc4b That\u2019s it for now!&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>\u201cHmm \u2026 There\u2019s nothing incorrect with your sentence, but we just don\u2019t say it like that.\u201d If you\u2019ve ever found yourself saying this to a student, you\u2019ve crossed into the realm of \u201cpragmatics\" \u2014 a side of language that we as conversation tutors are particularly well-situated to teach!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Pragmatics\"><\/span>What is Pragmatics?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>But first off, what is \"pragmatics\"? As the name suggests, pragmatics deals with a very \u201cpragmatic\u201d or \u201cpractical\u201d side of language: what people actually mean when they say something. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, let\u2019s say your friend Bob asks you, \u201cDo you have scissors?\u201d He probably isn't just wondering if you have scissors; he's asking you to lend him a pair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/05\/19035525\/image4-1.png\" alt=\"Pragmatics\" class=\"wp-image-1142\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/05\/19035525\/image4-1.png 900w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/05\/19035525\/image4-1-300x133.png 300w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/05\/19035525\/image4-1-768x341.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you reply, \u201cYes\u201d but don't give him your scissors, Bob would probably then ask, \u201cUm \u2026 can I borrow them?\u201d and wonder what was wrong with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This might seem like a silly example, but foreign language learners experience situations like these all the time. After all, the pragmatics of every language are different. Every language makes requests, asks questions, says greetings, etc. in different ways, and it can be hard to know what to say when most language classes focus on grammar and vocabulary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But how do we teach pragmatics? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reprogramming_Our_Grammar_Minds\"><\/span>Reprogramming Our Grammar Minds<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>First let\u2019s practice thinking of things in terms of pragmatics instead of grammar. For example, try to divide the following sentences into two groups: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>\u201cDo you have a pair of scissors?\u201d <\/li><li>\u201cIs it OK if I borrow your scissors?\u201d<\/li><li>\u201cI would like to borrow your scissors.\u201d<\/li><li>\u201cPlease lend me your scissors.\u201d<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of us might divide the sentences into questions (1 and 2) and statements (3 and 4). And that's true grammatically-speaking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, as conversation tutors, it\u2019s more helpful to ask ourselves, \u201cWhat are these sentences trying to achieve?\u201d and realize that all these sentences are asking for something, but in different ways: 1-3 are indirect requests, while 4 is a direct request (or even a demand).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, take a look at these sentences and think about what they\u2019re trying to achieve:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>\u201cWow, I didn\u2019t realize it was this late.\u201d<\/li><li>\u201cI\u2019ll let you get back to work.\u201d<\/li><li>\u201cOK, goodbye.\u201d<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>You probably realized that the sentences are meant to close conversations. 3 is the most direct and would probably sound abrupt if used alone. 1 and 2 are more indirect ways to close a conversation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, think about how you would end conversations in the following situations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>In a meeting&nbsp;<\/li><li>With a student<\/li><li>Over the phone<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s what I came up with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>\u201cWell, it looks like we\u2019ve covered everything we need to.\u201d<\/li><li>\u201cIt was great speaking with you today, Kazu-san.\u201d<\/li><li>Make it sound like the line is breaking up and say, \u201cSorry, can I call you later?\u201d \ud83d\ude1c<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>You may have come up with totally different responses, and that\u2019s OK. The point is that they are all ways to end a conversation and we should learn to think of them in terms of this \u201cspeech act.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Applying_Pragmatics_To_Feedback\"><\/span>Applying Pragmatics To Feedback<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now how can we apply pragmatics to our feedback? Consider the following sentences:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>\u201cIt would make me happy if you lent me your scissors.\u201d<\/li><li>\u201cI\u2019d like to borrow your scissors, but \u2026\u201d<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These might sound unnatural or confusing, but would be totally acceptable in Japanese. If we heard a Japanese student say the sentences above, we\u2019d probably respond with something like, \u201cWe don\u2019t say this\u201d or \u201cthis doesn\u2019t sound natural.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead, consider incorporating some principles of pragmatics: \u201cIn English, we don\u2019t make requests like this. Here are some phrases you can use instead to make polite requests: \u201cIs it OK if I \u2026?\u201d, \u201cCould I \u2026?\u201d, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do this a few more times and the student will start thinking about what speech acts they want to achieve and what expressions they should use \u2014 instead of trying to directly translate everything with grammar and vocabulary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/05\/19035516\/image3-1.png\" alt=\"the importance of pragmatics in fluency\" class=\"wp-image-1141\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/05\/19035516\/image3-1.png 900w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/05\/19035516\/image3-1-300x178.png 300w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/05\/19035516\/image3-1-768x456.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As an exercise, look at the following exchange and think about what feedback you could give the student:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tutor: Would you like to do self-introductions?<br>Student: Yes, I would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"509\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/05\/19035445\/image1-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1139\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/05\/19035445\/image1-1.png 900w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/05\/19035445\/image1-1-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/05\/19035445\/image1-1-768x434.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You could first identify the speech act: \u201cYou\u2019re accepting an offer.\u201d Then, point out more common ways to achieve the speech act: \u201cYou can say, \u2018Yes, please\u2019 or \u2018Yes, that would be great!\u2019&nbsp; instead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>OK, last exercise. Imagine a tourist stops you on the street and says, \u201cHello, I\u2019d like your help\u201d and then asks you how to get to the train station. Think:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>What are they trying to achieve with this sentence? What is the speech act?&nbsp;<\/li><li>What would be a better way to carry out this speech act?&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>(See a possible response at the end of this post.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%F0%9F%91%8B_Thats_it_for_now\"><\/span>\ud83d\udc4b That\u2019s it for now!&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As a final note, keep in mind that not all students care about pragmatics. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jstor.org\/stable\/3587583\">English learners who\u2019ve never lived abroad usually see pragmatics as much less important than grammar<\/a>. In fact, I\u2019ve even had a Japanese student say to me, \u201cI don\u2019t want to change the way I speak to sound more American or British. I like sounding Japanese in English.\u201d And that\u2019s fine \u2026 I guess. \ud83e\udd37&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But hopefully, this has given you a different perspective on feedback. Here are some pieces to get you started with providing good pragmatics feedback:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/19\/smart-expressions-voicing-opinions\/\">Smart Expressions For Voicing An Opinion<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tutor.engoo.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/22\/smart-expressions-reasons-predictions-and-recommendations\/\">Smart Expressions For Providing Reasons, Predictions, And Recommendations<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Happy tutoring!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(And as promised, a possible response to the exercise above is: 1. The tourist is asking a stranger for help; 2. They could just say \u201cExcuse me\u201d!)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cHmm \u2026 There\u2019s nothing incorrect with your sentence, but we just don\u2019t say it like that.\u201d If you\u2019ve ever found yourself saying this to a student, you\u2019ve crossed into the realm of \u201cpragmatics\" \u2014 a...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":137,"featured_media":1140,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"unified_meta_tagline_field":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[51,58],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1138","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-teaching-conversation","category-teaching-grammar"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Pragmatics \u2014 aka &quot;Why We Just 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