In the hallway at school, Felipe's girlfriend says to him, "I'd like to see you later". Soon after, Felipe's economics professor also says, "I'd like to see you later". Although Felipe is looking forward to the meeting with his girlfriend, he is not as excited about the meeting with his professor, whose subject he's failing. Which rules allow Felipe to draw a conclusion about the two different meanings of the same statement?
A) Phonological
B) Syntactic
C) Pragmatic
D) Semantic

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct rule is pragmatic because it involves understanding the context and the social implications behind the words used, which allows Felipe to interpret the same statement differently when it comes from his girlfriend versus his professor.

In the Hallway at School, Felipe's Girlfriend Says to Him