Pragmatics

PRAGMATICS Pragmatics are the set of things which give a language it's charicter. Technically defined as the "factors of language which govern our choice of words and constructions." Pragmatics takes a different sense in constructing a language.

In order to provide choices for the speakers (real or fictional) of your language, you should take into account when develpoing vocabulary the possible registers in which one might choose to speak. Though real languages have inumerable registers, your should at least include:

Degrees of formality:

You should consider the varrious social and situational concerns of the people. For example, they might use an entirely different dialect in a courtroom than in the fishmarket, and a whole different language for religous studies. You should have ways to express respect to elders, people of higher rank, equals, etc.

Writing style:

Legal briefs, poems, Internet messages, and novels all have their place in a language. Some rules must be breakable for the poets, some additional rules must be added to let the lawers draw fine distinctions. A wide vocabulary allows people to make idosyncratic choices and develop their own writing style.

One vs. Two-way communication:

The language must allow people to make unambiguous written works, but still allow for speakers in a conversation to omit the obvious (as they do in most real languages.)

Technical vs. lay-person:

You should also consider making provisions for things such as slang and technical jargon. Allow for some natural formation of words as the language expands.

Conversational manouvering:

There should be a number of ways in the language for manouvering in a conversation based on things like register. You should include things like greetings, opening and closing conversations, changes of subject, chacks that the listener understand, and polite ways of leaving a continuing conversation.

Copyright © 1997, Jack Durst,
Last updated: 7 July, 1997