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Assessing communicative intents: a situated pragmatics approach
1Department of Communication Disorders, Bowling Green State University, Ohio 43403, USA. lhewitt@bgnet.bgsu.edu
Seminars in Speech and Language
|August 25, 2000
Summary
This study traces the evolution of communicative intent analysis, advocating a situated approach. It emphasizes context and environmental factors over simple lists for a comprehensive understanding of communication.
Area of Science:
- Linguistics
- Communication Studies
- Pragmatics
Background:
- The analysis of communicative intents has evolved significantly since J.L. Austin's foundational work in 1975.
- Traditional methods often rely on predefined lists of intents, potentially limiting comprehensive analysis.
Observation:
- A situated approach to analyzing communicative intents is recommended.
- This approach prioritizes contextual variables and open-ended assessments of intent range.
- Environmental factors, including barriers to communication, are crucial for accurate assessment.
Findings:
- Assessing communicative intents requires consideration of the surrounding environment.
- Lists of intents can be insufficient, potentially obscuring individual differences and the multifunctionality of utterances.
- A situated approach offers a more nuanced understanding of communication.
Implications:
- Adopting a situated approach can lead to more accurate and individualized communication assessments.
- Understanding environmental influences is key to identifying and addressing communicative challenges.
- This framework enhances the analysis of pragmatics and communicative competence.