THE NOTION OF PRAGMATIC POTENTIAL: HOW SYNTACTIC CONSTRUCTIONS REALIZE A COMMUNICATIVE EFFECT
Keywords:
Pragmatic potential, syntactic constructions, communicative meaning, constructions grammar, functional linguistics, speaker intention.Abstract
This article examines the concept of pragmatic potential and how syntactic constructions contribute to creating specific communicative effects. Building on the work of Vilen Komissarov, pragmatic potential is viewed as the ability of language units to express meaning effectively depending on the communicative situation. The discussion also draws on Adele Goldberg, who argues that syntactic constructions are meaningful patterns that serve particular communicative purposes rather than being purely structural forms. Combining these perspectives, the article shows how speakers use syntactic choices to shape meaning, convey intentions, and influence interpretation within real-life discourse contexts.
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