1. Syntax
* Focus: The structure of sentences and how words are arranged.
* Example: "The cat sat on the mat" vs. "Sat the cat on the mat." Both use the same words, but the syntax is different, creating different meanings.
* Key Concepts: Grammar rules, word order, parts of speech, phrases, clauses.
* How it Works: Syntax tells us how words fit together to create grammatically correct sentences. It doesn't focus on what the words mean but rather on how they are ordered and related to each other.
2. Semantics
* Focus: The meaning of words, phrases, and sentences.
* Example: "The cat sat on the mat" - This sentence has a semantic meaning that a feline animal was in a specific location.
* Key Concepts: Word meaning, sentence meaning, truth conditions, logical relations (e.g., synonymy, antonymy).
* How it Works: Semantics delves into the literal meaning of language. It analyzes the relationship between words and the concepts they represent.
3. Pragmatics
* Focus: The intended meaning of language in context. How language is used in real-world situations.
* Example: "It's cold in here." This sentence has a semantic meaning about temperature, but pragmatically, it could be a request to close the window.
* Key Concepts: Speech acts (requests, promises, apologies), implicatures (unsaid meanings), conversational maxims (rules of politeness and cooperation), context.
* How it Works: Pragmatics considers the speaker's intentions, the context of the conversation, and how these factors influence the interpretation of what is said.
In Summary:
* Syntax: The structure of language.
* Semantics: The meaning of language.
* Pragmatics: The use of language in context.
Think of it like this:
* Syntax is the blueprint for building a sentence.
* Semantics is the meaning of the building itself.
* Pragmatics is how you use the building, considering its purpose and the people around it.
These three levels of language understanding work together to allow us to communicate effectively.