On the pragmatic functions of non-restrictive relational clauses in English news report discourse

Traditional syntactic or semantic theories failed to provide a satistactory explanation for the unique features of non-restrictive relational clauses in people＇s daily use of English language. This paper would adopt the theoretical framework of pragmatics and use relevance theory as well as face theory to discuss the unique pragmatic functions of non-restrictive relational clauses in English news report discourse. The three major pragmatic functions are： （1） optimizing the relevance of information; （2） seeking for the consistence with readers; and （3） avoiding imposing the author＇s opinion on readers.

Analysis of Pragmatic Functions of“Smile”Emoji in Chinese WeChat Communication Between People of Different Ages

With the rapid development of social media,emojis have gradually become an indispensable communication tool in computer-mediated communication(CMC).In recent years,researchers have found that emojis not only have semantic and syntax functions(e.g.,punctuation),but also perform pragmatic functions.Therefore,this thesis is to investigate the differences in pragmatic functions of“smile”emoji between people of different ages.And this paper is a small-scale quantitative research based on the eight pragmatic functions of emoticons proposed by Yus(2014).To find out similarities and differences of“smile”emoji between people of different ages,this paper compared the use frequency and pragmatic functions of“smile”emoji in two WeChat groups which are from youth and middle-aged people and did statistical analysis by Statistic Package for Social Science(SPSS).According to similarities and differences in frequency and pragmatic functions,“smile”emoji can be divided into four categories,which are:(1)similar frequency but different functions;(2)different frequency but similar function,(3)emojis exist only in one group;and(4)similar in both use frequency and function.So,the results suggest that there is a difference between people of different ages using“smile”emoji in WeChat communication.Thus,this study will provide insights into how to use emojis in WeChat when people at different ages communicate with each other can make a successful conversation.

On Pragmatic Functions of Discourse Marker I mean

Discourse markers are among the basic building blocks of spoken language.This study gauges the use of the discourse marker I mean in spoken English,specifically in the talk show setting,with the aim of providing a comprehensive description of the pragmatic functions of I mean.After extracting large quantities of extended conversations from various talk shows,a corpus for fur⁃ther extensive discourse analysis will then be established.Our small-scale yet fine-grained study proposes that the core functions of I mean includes reformulation,elaboration,lexical search and interpersonal management.The wide use of discourse markers in TV talk shows serves to promote the logic and organization of interviewing language as well as the overall discourse setting whereby the talk shows proceed smoothly with the interlocutors’dynamic devotion into conversation.

Analysis of the Pragmatic Functions of Double Negative

Double negative in English has three functions： to strengthen the affirmatives, and to affirm euphemism and to strengthen the negative meaning, which are analyzed in the present paper.

A Corpus-Based Study of the Discourse Marker“Well”and Its Pragmatic Functions in L2 Learners’Dialogues

This paper focuses on the pragmatic function of the discourse marker“well”in conversational interaction of second language learners.Based on the corpus,we divide the pragmatic functions of“well”into four levels:content level,structural level,interpersonal level,and without level(interlanguage marker).This will help us understand the use of markers,such as“well”in interlanguage and provide references for improving the pragmatic competence of second language learners.

Analysis of Pragmatic Functions of Vague Expressions in Advertisements

Pragmatic vagueness is a manifestation that language has elasticity and is one of attributes of nature language. Pragmatic vagueness phenomenon exists in news report, law version and commerce report. Nowadays in adverting creations, advertisers take pragmatic vagueness as the strategy in order to make the most effective to strengthen the advertising attention, memory and persuasion in the limited time and space. At the same time, the pragmatic vagueness strategy also strengthens the advertising flexibility and appropriateness, compresses information and produces advertising aesthetic effect. In most circumstances, advertising companies use pragmatic vagueness to realize their advertising purpose and pragmatic vagueness offers strangely psychological hint to customers. This paper will firstly state pragmatic vagueness and advertising activities, and then analysis the function of pragmatic vagueness in advertisements.

The Characteristics and Pragmatic Strategies of English Euphemism

Some words may cause embarrassment in daily communication,and euphemism is a language type to avoid embarrassment.Euphemism is widely used in English expression.On the basis of exploring the characteristics of English euphemism in times,regionalism,register,and nationality,this paper discusses in detail the pragmatic functions of English euphemism from four dimensions,namely taboo,politeness,positivity,and concealment,in order to provide guidance for the proper use of English euphemism.

A Pragmatic Account of the Discourse Marker Look in the Big Bang Theory

This study focuses on analyzing the pragmatic functions of the discourse marker look in casual conversations.Through the anal-ysis of the collected data from the American sitcom The Big Bang Theory(season eight),it is found that look can act respectively as(1) astart marker of a new topic or a topic shift marker,(2) a coherence marker,(3) a repair marker in different contexts,(4) an emotionalmarker,and(5) a mitigator of face-threatening acts.These functions show that although look as a discourse marker is just a single word,it can improve the way of communicating in the conversation and help speakers express more than what they say.

Pragmatic study of English and Chinese hyperbole

Hyperbole is a very common rhetorical device which is widely used both in English and Chinese. In order to express his/her strong feelings and also to make his/her language more powerful, the writer/speaker exaggerates things on purpose. Yet in spite of the over-truth expression, employment of hyperbole does not affect the conversation flow between parties. Through an analysis of hyperbole from the perspective of pragrnatics, this article tries to explain the pragmatic functions of hyperbole.

A Study of Pragmatic Vagueness in Chinese Spokespersons’Remarks

Pragmatic vagueness is not only a universal phenomenon in daily life,but also an indispensable communicative strategy,especially in press conferences.This article analyzes pragmatic vagueness in Chinese Spokespersons’four remarks from the perspective of Grice’s Cooperative Principle.The purpose of the article is to analyze the application of pragmatic vagueness in the remarks of Chinese spokespersons from the perspective of the Cooperative Principle and its pragmatic functions.The results show that pragmatic vagueness was an international communicative strategy in the remarks of Chinese spokespersons and through the use of pragmatic vagueness,the spokespersons violated the maxims of the Cooperative Principle,especially quantity maxim and manner maxim,in order to achieve different pragmatic functions:withholding information,being flexible,avoiding conflicts and safeguarding national interests.These findings have some implications for people to understand the application and functions of pragmatic vagueness in the remarks of Chinese spokespersons.

Analysis of Puns in English Advertising Language From the Relevance Theory

The pun becomes the most popular language strategy for advertisers as a broadly used rhetorical device. Using pun words felicitously not only makes advertising language more humorous, implicative, and vivid but also leaves the audience a room to imagine and enjoy. The author summarizes pun＇s definitions, features, classifications, and how the pun procures a successful communicative activity in English advertisements based on Sperber and Wilson＇s Relevance Theory. At last, the pun＇s pragmatic functions are concluded.

Analyzing ＂Fuzziness＂ of Hedges and Its Function in ＂Filter Cup＂ English Public Speaking Contest

In recent years, numerous scholars have attached much importance to the pragmatic function of hedges and associated it with daily life. Scholars have conducted a lot of research on how hedges function in news broadcast, interview, trial, commercial negotiation, language teaching, entertainment, etc. However, there is still no research on its application in Public Speaking Contest （hereinafter referred to as PSC ）. PSC is usually regarded as a great annual event for students. In order to analyze the efficiency of hedges in PSC to help students to he skirted in the application of different hedges, this article wiU analyze characteristics of hedges by the comparison with the relevant concept like probability and vagueness; then some scholars＇ approach of classifieation will be introduced; lastly, it will analyze different function of hedges under the context of some articles in＂Filter Cup＂English Public Speaking Contest. Adaptors can make the expression more polite and tact; rounders can make speaker＇ s information more believable and show his sincere attitude for judges; plausibility shields can show thoughtful and clear-headed property; attribution shields can help to avoid the responsibility for a fault.

Study on "ban-A-bu-B" Format

“ban-A-bu-B”format is a popular format in spoken expression in modern Chinese.Basing on the full analysis of the nature and characteristics of the variable part“A”“B”and the invariant part of“ban”and“bu”,this paper holds that the format is a lowlevel expression with a format meaning:1.When the semantemes of A and B are opposite,the whole format emphasis on“ban-A”,which contains the expression of soft rejection and disgust;2.When the semantames between A and B are similar,this format contains inappropriate and disagree expression to things or events,etc.This kind of format has a function of lowlevel negative evaluation and the function of high-level subjectivity.

Humor and Vocabulary Teaching in Senior High School

Vocabulary is one of the main influence factors in senior high school students' English learning according to the author's English teaching practice.After having analyzed the features of English vocabulary,this paper puts forward some methods of teaching vocabulary from these aspects:the formation of words,homographs and homophones,and the language situation.

A Study of the Chinese Vocative Jiemei

This article investigates the pragmatics of a recently emerged Chinese vocative,namely Jiemei in sentence-initial positions.I attempt to explore how and why such a vocative is widely employed by a female interlocutor to address another female in China.Through the analysis of the examples attained using BCC,a Chinese corpus containing conversations from a wide range of genres,this study suggests a various relational acts performed by Jiemei and its pragmatic functions.

A Preliminary Study of ＂I＂ and ＂We＂ in Teachers＇ Talk in a Military Academy

This paper is a qualitative study of how and why English teachers in military academy use personal pronoun I and inclusive and exclusive we. Through analysis of teachers＇ use of/and we in the taped videos, some differences in the frequency use of inclusive we and exclusive we have been found and a number of effects the inclusive pronouns create are illustrated. Specifically, the paper reveals how 1 and we help teachers create a sense of authority in the classroom, showing how teachers are aligning with the students. Inclusive pronouns can act as a positive politeness device by imparting knowledge, organizing the contents, and highlighting the important and difficult points. It is noticed that there is fuzziness between inclusive personal pronoun and exclusive pronoun, which can be manipulated by the teacher to create authority or closeness with students.

The Use of I think by Chinese EFL Learners:A Study Revisited

本文以LLC口语语料库和COLSEC(中国学习者英语口语语料库)为基础,通过频数、位置、搭配、尤其是语用功能分析,研究中国英语学习者和英语本族语者在使用I think方面的差异。数据表明中国英语学习者存在超用Ithink的情况。中国英语学习者和英语本族语者一样用I think来缓和语气、表示协商和肯定、实现话轮转换、保持话轮以及达到延缓时间的目的。但是,他们在使用I think时还表现出一些其他特有的功能,如与so或firstly共选表示总结或列举等。另外根据后续调查发现超用的潜在原因可能包括习惯用法、延缓、英语水平有限等。