Abstract: This paper is an attempt at discourse analysis of a Kiswahili discourse. It aims at analyzing the discourse from a pragmatic approach and focuses on the study of pragmatic notions such as reference, presupposition, implicature, and inference.
Key words: Context, reference, presupposition, implicature, and inference.
Table of Contents
I. INRODUCTION
I. Theoretical Background on general pragmatics
1. Pragmatics: Quid?
2. Context
3. Context models
4. Literary Pragmatics
I. Methodology
II. Discussion and results
III.1. Reference
III.2. Presupposition
III.3. Implicature
III.4. Inference
III. Conclusion
Objectives & Research Topics
This paper aims to provide a pragmatic discourse analysis of a radio broadcast in Kiswahili. It explores how contextual factors and specific pragmatic notions are utilized by the presenter to convey messages and influence listener interpretation.
- Analysis of indexical expressions and referential pronouns.
- Examination of the role of context and context models in discourse.
- Investigation of presuppositions as a foundation for common ground.
- Application of pragmatic theories to media communication in Bukavu.
Excerpt from the Book
III.2. Presupposition
Lexically, presupposition is something that you believe to be true and use as the beginning of an argument even though it has not been proved (Oxford Advanced learner’s Dictionary 2006). The term in Pragmatics is defined as the assumptions the speaker makes about what the hearer is likely to accept without challenge “(Givon, 1979 a: 50). Wikipedia (2012) also mentions that in the branch of linguistics known as pragmatics, a presupposition (or ps) is an implicit assumption about the world or background belief relating to an utterance whose truth is taken for granted in discourse. Examples of presuppositions include:
• Do you want to do it again?
o Presupposition: that you have done it already, at least once.
• Jane no longer writes fiction.
o Presupposition: that Jane once wrote fiction.
A presupposition must be mutually known or assumed by the speaker and addressee for the utterance to be considered appropriate in context. It will generally remain a necessary assumption whether the utterance is placed in the form of an assertion, denial, or question, and can be associated with a specific lexical item or grammatical feature (presupposition trigger) in the utterance. The term also involves the notion of ‘Common ground’ as Stalnaker (1978: 381) says hereafter:
…presuppositions are what is taken by the speaker to be common ground of the participant in the conversation.
Chapter Summaries
I. INRODUCTION: This section introduces the study of a Kiswahili radio discourse from a pragmatic perspective, focusing on how media language is produced and decoded in the context of Bukavu.
I. Theoretical Background on general pragmatics: This chapter defines core pragmatic concepts, including context, context models, and the field of literary pragmatics as a foundation for the analysis.
I. Methodology: This section outlines the qualitative approach used, including the recording and transcription of a radio broadcast from Maendeleo radio for subsequent discourse analysis.
II. Discussion and results: This chapter presents the literal translation of the radio discourse and performs a detailed pragmatic analysis of indexical expressions and pronouns.
III.1. Reference: This section examines how the speaker identifies referents through language and how grammatical agreement influences pronoun usage.
III.2. Presupposition: This section investigates the background assumptions the speaker relies on to establish common ground with the audience.
III.3. Implicature: This chapter explores how meaning is suggested rather than explicitly stated, according to Grice’s cooperative principle.
III.4. Inference: This section describes the process by which the listener and analyst derive indirect meaning from the discourse.
III. Conclusion: This section synthesizes the findings, confirming how pragmatic notions are essential for the effective communication and interpretation of the analyzed radio show.
Keywords
Pragmatics, Discourse Analysis, Kiswahili, Context, Reference, Presupposition, Implicature, Inference, Indexical Expressions, Media Language, Radio Broadcasting, Anaphora, Deixis, Common Ground, Communication.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research focuses on the pragmatic analysis of a specific radio discourse in Kiswahili to understand how language is used in media communication.
What are the central themes discussed in this paper?
The central themes include context, reference, presupposition, implicature, and inference within the framework of pragmatic linguistics.
What is the main objective of this study?
The main objective is to analyze how a radio journalist in Bukavu uses language and specific pragmatic tools to ensure the intended message is successfully decoded by listeners.
Which scientific method is employed in this work?
The author employs a discourse analysis method, utilizing recorded and transcribed data from a local radio station, supplemented by library research.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The main body covers the theoretical foundations of pragmatics, a detailed breakdown of indexical expressions in the sample text, and an analysis of how presuppositions and implicatures function in the broadcast.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms such as Pragmatics, Discourse Analysis, Context, Reference, and Indexical Expressions are central to characterizing the paper.
How does the author define 'Context' in this study?
The author defines context as the environment where language is used, distinguishing between linguistic/co-text and physical/situational context.
What role do 'Context Models' play in the analysis?
Context models are presented as mental representations that speakers and listeners build to interpret utterances dynamically as situations change.
How is 'Presupposition' used to influence the listener?
Presupposition is used to establish common ground, where the speaker assumes the listener shares certain beliefs, which the listener generally accepts to facilitate the flow of the broadcast.
What does the analysis conclude about 'Reference' in Kiswahili media?
The analysis concludes that the speaker uses various indexical expressions and pronouns that depend on grammatical agreement to maintain focus on specific referents while addressing a diverse audience.
- Quote paper
- Bonaventure Muzigirwa (Author), 2010, A Pragmatic Treatment Of Bukavu Media Kiswahili, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/200642
