Semantics/pragmatics

Systematic study of meaning in language, especially word and sentence meaning

Society's definition

Dictionary's definition

"Time is Money"

Process of semantic change in which a word with a specific meaning develops one or more related senses and so becomes a word of more general significance. Ex: the word "ceiling."

Process of semantic change in which a word with a general meaning becomes a word with more specific meaning. The word "wit" for example

"Cell phone." Cell comes from a monk's "cell" and is associated with it because it is a small, self contained unit

Word or expression with a positive connotation used in place of a neutral word. "Passing away" instead of "Dying."

Semantic process in which a term of neutral significance takes on a negative meaning

Semantic process by which a word means something "better" than it had at an earlier stage of history

Approach to language that conceives language as "performing actions."

The sounds and words that compose the supposedly referential meaning of an utterance

Intended of conventional meaning that can accompany a locutionary act within the compass of an utterance

Utterance which represents a state of affairs, characterized by stating, claiming, insisting, suggesting, etc. (also called assertives)

Designed to get the person addressed to do something, such as asking, ordering or challenging.

Requires the speaker to do something such as promise, threaten, intend or refrain

Expresses a speaker's mental state, such as apologizing, congratulating or welcoming.

Act that brings about the state of affairs to which it refers. Blessing, firing, sentencing or bidding.

Effect achieved by an utterance on a hearer

Speech act in which the loctutionary act corresponds exactly to an illocutionary act

Locutionary act that doesn't directly correspond to an illocutionary act

Utterances that specifically state the action they perform. "I now pronounce you man and wife."

In conversation, the principle that participants will cooperate with one another

Quantity, quality, relation and manner

Desire to be unimpeded in one's actions which in part, determines conversational politeness

Desire to be approved of or liked by other participants in conversation

Any utterance that challenges the level of politeness in conversation

Respecting another person's negative face, especially by using markers of deference, apology, etc

Enhancing the positive face of others in conversation, for instance, by means of compliments and other markers of friendliness