- Published: September 25, 2022
- Updated: September 25, 2022
- Level: Intermediate School
- Language: English
- Downloads: 3
The paper ” Words Don’t Mean What They Mean by S. Pinker” is a delightful example of an article on humanitarian. The article discusses how words said normally don’t mean what they say. The human hypocrisy is depicted on how to disguise is done to make others do the same yet we seek the plain truth. It is the essence of professing the truth and seeking to extract information that people mind. According to Pinker (n. d), people use different words or phrases instead of directly saying what they mean. For example, asking an officer if one can pay fine without going to the station. Ideally, people are not conversational experts hence difficult to comprehend the information. The assumption is that people presume relationship have a given degree of familiarity (Pinker, n. d.). Information taken literary tends to be insane. Rationality about the hearer lies on the request. Linguists refer to it as “ felicity condition” in the process of making a polite request. For example, when asking for salt, the request is made politely without making the other person feel like a servant (Pinker, n. d.). Equally, in the political scene, speeches provided may cause serious consequences as what is said never means exactly the aforementioned. The case of “ contract for bribery” depicts a different way political use to win votes and bribe members to have a certain agenda sail. Use of indirect speech to has a history in the gratification of democracy. For example, the wording on the call for Israel withdrawal of her army is ambiguous. This is done to pass palatable information to the Israelites and the allies. However, the information has never resolved the conflicts still witnessed. Others speak indirectly to save face (Pinker, n. d.). Similarly, in sexual relationships, Pinker notes that the linguistic dance requires elaboration. Those declining an offer may explain that coffee keeps them active all night. The word “ coffee “ is another way of asking someone for sex and is a way of cautioning people to tread carefully.