Pragmatic Presupposition of Galatians 2:20

Authors

  • Samuel Ayodele Dada Department of English, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti
  • Omoregbe Esohe Mercy Department of Linguistics and African Languages, University of Benin, Benin City

Keywords:

stylistics, semantics, pragmatics, presupposition, Paul and context

Abstract

The study examines pragmatic presupposition of Galatians 2: 20, a notable verse of the Scriptures written by Paul, an Apostle. The study aims to investigate that aspect of meaning which is derived not from the formal properties of words and constructions but from the way in which utterances are used and how they relate to the context in which they are uttered (cf. Leech & Short, 1987). The study shuns a superficial analysis by adopting a pragma-stylistic framework. Speech acts, presupposition, inference and mutual contextual beliefs (MCB) were used to interpret the meaning of the text.

As evident from the study, there are several approaches to understanding a text, however, in order to read and interpret in the light of what the text is saying, that is, in terms of its intended purposes, a pragmatic approach becomes inevitable. The analysis has provided more intellectual insights into the theory of language variation and variation in usage. It has also enhanced the frontiers of pragmatics and cognitive linguistics.

 

References

• Adetunji, A. (2009) ‘Acts in the Second Inaugural Addresses of Nigeria’s President Olusegun Obasanjo and America’s President George Bush’ In Odebunmi, A., Arua, E.A. and Arimi, S. (eds.) Language Gender and Politics: A Festschrift for Yisa Kehinde Yusuf. Lagos : Concept Publications Ltd.275-296.

• Austin, J.L.(1962) How to Do Things with Words London: Oxford University Press.

• Bach, K. and Harnish, R. (1979). Linguistic Communication and Speech Acts. Cambridge : M.I.T.Press.

• Dada, S.A. (2010) ‘A Speech Act Analysis of Slogans of Telecoms Companies in Nigeria.’ In Kuupole, D.D. and Bariki, I. (Ed.) Applied Social Dimensions of Language Use and Teaching in west Africa. Festschrift in Honour of Professor Tunde Ajiboye. Ghana: The University Press. 52-62.

• Dada, S.A. (2012) ‘A Pragma-stylistic Analysis of John 3:16’ International Journal of English Linguistics Vol.2, No.5. 85-93

• Finch, G. (2000). Linguistic Terms and Concepts. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

• Grice, H. P (1975) ‘Logic and Conversation’ In Cole, P. and Morgan, J. L.(eds.) Syntax and Semantics 3, Speech Act. London: Academy Press.41-48.

• Lawal, A.(2003). Pragmatics in Stylistics: A Speech Act Analysis of Soyinka’s ‘Telephone Conversation’. In A. Lawal (Ed.) .) Stylistics in Theory and Practice Ilorin: Paragon Books. 150-173.

• Leech, G. (1983) The Principles pf Pragmatics. London: Longman

• Leech, G.N and Short, M.H. (1987) Style in Fiction: A Linguistic Introduction to English Prose. London: Longman.

• Leech, G. and J. Thomas (1990) ‘Langauage Meaning and Context:Pragmatics’ In An Encyclopedia of Language (Ed.) Collin, N.E. London: Routledge. 173-201.

• Levinson, S.C. (1995) Pragmatics Cambridge: Cambridge Unversity Press.

• Wisniewski, K. (2007) available at wisniewski Jezyk angielski online.htm

• Wales, K. (1989) A Dictionary of Stylistics London : Longman

• Yule, G. (1996). Pragmatics. London: Oxford University Press

Downloads

Published

2013-12-14

How to Cite

Dada, S. A., & Mercy, O. E. (2013). Pragmatic Presupposition of Galatians 2:20. Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies, 1(5). Retrieved from https://www.ajouronline.com/index.php/AJHSS/article/view/602

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 5 (2013): December 2013

Section

Articles

License

  • Papers must be submitted on the understanding that they have not been published elsewhere (except in the form of an abstract or as part of a published lecture, review, or thesis) and are not currently under consideration by another journal published by any other publisher.
  • It is also the authors responsibility to ensure that the articles emanating from a particular source are submitted with the necessary approval.
  • The authors warrant that the paper is original and that he/she is the author of the paper, except for material that is clearly identified as to its original source, with permission notices from the copyright owners where required.
  • The authors ensure that all the references carefully and they are accurate in the text as well as in the list of references (and vice versa).
  • Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  • Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  • Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
  • The journal/publisher is not responsible for subsequent uses of the work. It is the author's responsibility to bring an infringement action if so desired by the author.