You hear your classmate say, "I'm just going to hang around until class starts." Which aspect of language structure helps you understand that your classmate means "waiting" and not actually hanging from a doorway?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Pragmatics refers to the contextual use of language and understanding the intended meaning of a statement. In this case, the context of being in a classroom and waiting for class to start helps us understand that the classmate means waiting, rather than physically hanging from something.

You Hear Your Classmate Say, "I'm Just Going to Hang