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Semantics studies the literal and implied meanings of words, while pragmatics focuses on how context and tone affect meaning. Both are important in understanding language and communication.
Semantics and pragmatics are both related to how meaning is derived from language. Semantics studies the meaning that words and certain combinations of words have for both the speaker and the listener. Pragmatics deals with how the context in which words are used can dictate their true meaning at that particular moment. Semantics and pragmatics are closely related as both are attempts to understand the meaning of language beyond the literal definition of words.
Theories of semantics attempt to describe the meaning of words and how they can change in different situations. There is a denotation for every word which is its direct or literal meaning, but words can also have a connotation or implied meaning. Some words or phrases create a feeling that is beyond the literal meaning. For example, the phrase “sitting on a beach” has a simple literal meaning, but could also evoke thoughts of relaxation, warm sunshine, and happy vacation memories for the listener. In this way the meaning of the sentence is expanded and modified by the connotation that accompanies it.
Pragmatics is a way of seeing how communication goes beyond what is said literally. For example, if someone speaks in a tone of sarcasm, the overall meaning that is conveyed by what they are saying is completely different from what the words alone would mean. People often misunderstand words that are taken out of context. This too is part of pragmatics, as the meaning that is communicated changes depending on the context in which it is used. Saying “The way ahead” to someone after they complete a task has a positive meaning, while the same phrase said after someone drops and breaks something can be seen as condescending.
It can be difficult to distinguish between semantics and pragmatics because they cover similar concepts. Much communication occurs outside of what is literally said because connotation, context and tone all play a role in how words are interpreted. Semantics and pragmatics are both attempts to understand how people process and use these functions of language as part of the overall communication process. Semantics and pragmatics work together to decipher the complex process of communication through language.
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