On the Tension Between Semantics and Pragmatics

Pragmemes revisited. A theoretical framework

“…This perspective views human language not as a conventionally shaped phenomenon but as one constrained by biological determinants (up to a point this point of view can be accepted, provided that we do not claim that this is all that linguistics is about). We will not delve into the complexities of this idea here (for a more extensive discussion, see Capone, 2010a , b , c , d ). Instead, we want to underscore that the exclusive emphasis of formal linguistics on biology and syntax as an independent system of rules had profound consequences on the direction of linguistic research at the end of the last century.…”

“…Typically accompanied by rules of use, the language game is essential as it clarifies what actions are permissible or not within the domain of language, encompassing various social constraints. These usage rules play a pivotal role in both production and interpretation, often expressed as “utterance X should be considered as Y in context Z.” Nevertheless, there is a crucial element missing from the concept of language game, and it pertains to the pragmeme’s generative capacity to establish new norms within a given scenario [for example, a student who asks for permission to eat during a class has created a precedent and has established a new norm if that behavior is accepted in that class and then in other classes (see Capone, 2010c , 2010d )]. The rules within a language game guide us on how the game should be played, emphasizing similarities.…”