Example of Pragmatics:
Imagine you're at a friend's house and they offer you a cup of tea. You say:
"That looks delicious, thank you!"
The literal meaning: You are acknowledging that the tea appears tasty and expressing gratitude for the offer.
The pragmatic meaning: You are accepting the offer and are looking forward to drinking the tea.
Why this is pragmatics:
* Context: The context of the situation (being offered tea) influences the meaning of your statement.
* Implicature: You haven't explicitly said "Yes, I'll have some tea." However, your statement implies acceptance through politeness and positive reinforcement.
* Social norms: Saying "Thank you" and expressing appreciation for the offer is a socially acceptable way to accept the offer.
This example demonstrates how pragmatic meaning goes beyond the literal words and considers the context, intentions, and social norms involved in communication.