The difference between pragmatics and semantics in English linguistics

Pragmatics studies meaning from the perspective of language users with the help of context, which is the development and supplement of traditional semantics. The necessity of this study can be seen from the two basic functions of language. On the one hand, language has the representation function of encoding information from the outside world to express cognition or human emotions. In this process, language elements have established a certain relationship with the outside world. This level of meaning research can be independent of context, and its research object is generally limited to literal meaning or meaning independent of context. On the other hand, language has the function of communication. As a communication tool, language can enable people to communicate smoothly in specific situations and achieve the expected goals. Because the communication between people is always related to a certain cultural or social environment, the study of meaning at this level should not only involve the literal meaning of language, but also include many complicated factors outside language. It is also necessary to study the meaning of traditional semantics, because language is first used as a communication tool, because it can express the agreed meaning (conventional meaning) for language users, which is different from pragmatic meaning such as indirect speech act or conversational meaning. Without this basic meaning, it is impossible to communicate in most cases. In fact, when many pragmatics emphasize the study of pragmatic meaning, they do not completely ignore the study of conventional meaning. To a certain extent, the conventional meaning of language is the carrier or starting point of communicative intention for communicators, and it is the theoretical basis or link of various schools of pragmatics for theoretical researchers. Therefore, there is no doubt that semantic research can complement pragmatic research. Joseph Richmond levinson commented: The characteristics of meaning determine that mixed research is imperative. Only when semantics and pragmatics work together can a relatively homogeneous system be established. We can use Gazdar's famous equation to express this complementary relationship between pragmatics and semantics: pragmatics = mean-truth condition.