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 #2 (permalink) Thu May 29, 2008 18:53 pm Function of the sentence |
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Hi Sonnete
When giving someone bad news or when you are not able to accommodate someone's request (for example), we sometimes soften the bad news by apologizing with introductory phrases such as 'I'm afraid' or 'Sorry'.
So, basically, your sentence is apologetic.
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Yankee
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| #3 (permalink) Thu May 29, 2008 22:07 pm Function of the sentence |
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Remembering of course that pragmatics can be a tricky part of language learning.
"I'm afraid he's not in the office", for example, could mean "no matter how many times you call with the intention of pestering him, you are not going to get to speak to him - if I have anything to do with it". So, if the pragmatic competence of the listener is up to scratch, the "apology" function goes out the window. |
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Molly
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| #4 (permalink) Fri May 30, 2008 5:50 am Function of the sentence |
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Thanks..
A very good response... |
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Sonnete
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| #5 (permalink) Sat May 31, 2008 12:07 pm Function of the sentence |
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It seems almost contradictory to talk about pragmatics in a context with no context.
1. I'm afraid he's not in the office.
I would say that while #1 may be true in one context, false in another, and a rebuff in yet another, it always retains its apologetic implication.
Otherwise, it would not be effective as e.g. a lie, or as a rebuff in the context M. describes: its opacity depends on its apologetic nature.
(By which I mean, the bothersome caller can't reasonably respond with "What you really mean is, no matter how many times you call with the intention of pestering him, you are not going to get to speak to him – if I have anything to do with it".)
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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| #6 (permalink) Sat May 31, 2008 19:47 pm Function of the sentence |
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| We see that Mr P knows very little about pragmatics. |
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Molly
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| #7 (permalink) Sat May 31, 2008 22:38 pm Function of the sentence |
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| Molly wrote: |
We see that Mr P knows very little about pragmatics.
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I'm sure we all know very little about most things, old chap. But I'll be interested to read your explanation of where my explanation goes awry.
All the best,
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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| #8 (permalink) Sun Jun 01, 2008 0:15 am Function of the sentence |
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"Awry"? Is Mr P a 80s' child?
1920s 2.0
1930s 0.9
1940s 1.6
1950s 1.2
1960s 2.0
1970s 2.4
1980s 4.3
1990s 5.9
2000s 3.3
Time Magazine. |
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Molly
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| #9 (permalink) Sun Jun 01, 2008 0:18 am Function of the sentence |
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Or maybe he lives in the world of Fiction:
awry
SPOKEN 0.0
FICTION 2.0
NEWSPAPER 0.9
ACADEMIC 0.5
MISC 1.1
The BNC. |
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Molly
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| #10 (permalink) Sun Jun 01, 2008 0:54 am Function of the sentence |
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| Molly wrote: |
"Awry"? Is Mr P a 80s' child?
S1920s 2.0
1930s 0.9
1940s 1.6
1950s 1.2
1960s 2.0
1970s 2.4
1980s 4.3
1990s 5.9
2000s 3.3
Time Magazine. |
You'll forgive me if I don't reply in kind, old chap.
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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| #11 (permalink) Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:01 am Function of the sentence |
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| Fact: there are approx. 12 searches per day for "awry" across the major English-language search engines. Could they all be in reference to Mr P's postings? |
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Molly
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| #12 (permalink) Sun Jun 01, 2008 13:41 pm Function of the sentence |
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| Molly wrote: |
| We see that Mr P knows very little about pragmatics. |
As I said, I'll be interested to read your explanation of where my explanation goes awry.
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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| #13 (permalink) Sun Jun 01, 2008 15:37 pm Function of the sentence |
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| MrPedantic wrote: |
| As I said, I'll be interested to read your explanation of where my explanation goes awry. |
Me too. 
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Yankee
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| Sentence: when you use an air ticket in the airport they cut a paper from the... | How to use upon |
