Free Essay

Education

In:

Submitted By veroa1979
Words 11921
Pages 48
Ward College
Teacher Training College

LINGUISTICS

Teacher: Lic. Sebastián Amado

Paper Nº2: Essay on Pragmatics

Date: 17-11-11

Students: Bruno, Fabiana García, Verónica Vocal, María Laura

PRAGMATICS

APPLIED

TO EVERYDAY LANGUAGE

Introduction

Chapter 1: Deixis and distance

1. Person deixis
2. Spatial deixis
3. Temporal deixis

Chapter 2: Reference and inference

1. Referring expression
2. Inference
3. Co-text
4. Anaphoric reference

Chapter 3: Presupposition and entailment

1. Types of presupposition
2. Entailments

Chapter 4: Cooperation and implicature

1. The cooperative principle
2. Hedges
3. Conversational implicatures
4. Generalized conversational implicatures
5. Scalar implicatures
6. Particularized conversational implicatures
7. Conventional implicatures

Chapter 5: Speech acts and events

1. Speech act classification
2. Felicity conditions
3. Speech events

Chapter 6: Politeness and interaction

1. Politeness
2. Face wants
3. Say something: off and on record
4. Positive and negative politeness

Chapter 7: Conversation and preference structure

1. Conversation analysis
2. Pauses, overlaps, and backchannels

Chapter 8: Discourse and culture

1. Discourse analysis

Chapter 9: Identification and application
Conclusion
Bibliography
Appendix: Script

Introduction: Pragmatics is concerned with the study of meaning as communicated by a speaker (or writer) and interpreted by a listener (or reader). As GeorgeYule (1996) says, ‘Pragmatics is the study of speaker meaning’. This paper shows that this type of study involves the interpretation of what people mean in a particular context and how the context influences what is said. It means, that pragmatics is, also, ‘the study of contextual meaning’. The paper is divided into eight chapters; each one explains different concepts in relation to pragmatics. So this theory is the study of the relationship between linguistic forms and the users of these forms. The examples that explain the main technical terms are taken from the episode ‘The Note’ from the well-known sitcom ‘Seinfeld’. Chapter 9 offers suggestions on how this type of study can be applied to the same episode of the sitcom. The appendix contains the complete script with numbered lines.

Chapter 1: Deixis and distance

Deixis is a technical term that means ‘pointing’ via language. There are three forms, the first one can be used to indicate people via person deixis, location via spatial deixis and temporal via temporal deixis.

1. PERSON DEIXIS

EXAMPLE 1
LINE 15. Jerry: What do you think the worst part of being blind is?

The use of this pronoun shows the distinction described by a person deixis with the speaker (I: in this case Jerry) and the addressee (you: Julianna) mentioned.

EXAMPLE 2
LINE 29. Jerry: He was at a carnival with his mother.

In this example, it can be considered that person deixis operates on a basic three-part division, exemplified by the pronouns for the first person (I: Jerry), second person (You: Julianna) and the third person (He: The kidnapped boy that Jerry mentioned to Julianna).

EXAMPLE 3
LINE 36. Jerry: Who takes care of your boy during the day?

LINE 37. Julianna: We have a woman. Why?

In the answer to this question, the speaker (Julianna) is using the first person plural (we) with the function of an exclusive ‘we’ (speaker plus other(s), excluding the addressee: Jerry).

EXAMPLE 4
Closing monologue
LINE 409. I think it's because men know that deep down we have weak
LINE 410. sales resistance. We're constantly buying shoes that hurt us, pants

In this case the use of the first person plural (we) functions, in both cases, as an inclusive ‘we’. It means that the speaker (Jerry) and the addressee are included (the male audience).

2. SPATIAL DEIXIS

EXAMPLE 1
LINE 125. Raymond: ...And then Julianna asked me if I wanted to join her here in the office.

The use of the adverb, which is in italics, shows that the speaker (Raymond) is referring to his location about his job at the moment of speaking and expressing that he is working at this place.

EXAMPLE 2
LINE 198.Kramer: I just saw Joe DiMaggio in Dinky Donuts. You know,I
LINE 199. looked in there and there he was having coffee and a donut.

In this example, the adverb (there) shows that the speaker (Kramer) is referring to a particular place that is not where he is now. And he is telling his friend that particular anecdote.

3. TEMPORAL DEIXIS

EXAMPLE 1
LINE 176. George: And then I took my pants off.

The use of the adverb, which is in italics, is considered to be a temporal deixis marker. It applies to the past time relative to the speaker’s present time (the dialogue with Jerry at his flat about George’s experience with a male masseuse)

EXAMPLE 2
LINE 271. Jerry: See, now I know it's not him. Joe DiMaggio could not be a
LINE 272. dunker

The adverb, which is in italics, is considered as the proximal form which indicates both the time coinciding with the speaker’s utterance and the time of the speaker’s voice being heard. So it happens in present tense.

Chapter 2: Reference and inference

Reference is an act by which a speaker uses a word, or words to enable a listener to identify someone or something. Those linguistic forms are referring expressions.They can be proper nouns, noun phrases which are definite or indefinite, and pronouns. It must be considered that reference is clearly tied to the speaker’s goals and beliefs in the use of language.

1. Referring expression
EXAMPLE 1
198. Kramer: I just saw Joe DiMaggio in Dinky Donuts. You know, I
199. looked in there and there he was having coffee and a donut.

200. Jerry: Joe DiMaggio? In Dinky Donuts?

201. Kramer: Yeah. Joe DiMaggio.

202. Jerry: I'm sorry, if Joe DiMaggio wants a donut he goes to a fancy
203. restaurant or a hotel. He's not sitting in Dinky Donuts.

204. Kramer: Well maybe he likes Dinky Donuts.

The use of a proper noun shows that there is a pragmatic connection between these kind of nouns and objects that will be conventionally associated, within a socio-culturally defined community, with those names. In this particular case, the proper noun in bold invites the listener to make the expected inference and thereby it shows that he is a member of the same community as the speaker. Both are aware of who is this ‘famous’ person.

EXAMPLE 2
36. Jerry: Who takes care of your boy during the day?

37. Julianna: We have a woman. Why?

38. Jerry: No no. I'm just saying.

39. Julianna: She had references.

This example shows three different linguistic forms. First of all, there is a noun phrase, in italics, which is definite. Secondly, there is a noun phrase which is indefinite, in line 37. And finally, there is a pronoun in line 39. In conclusion, all these forms are considered as referring expressions which enable a listener, or reader, to identify something.

2. Inference This refers to the listener’s use of additional knowledge to make sense of what is not explicit in an utterance.
EXAMPLE 1

26. Jerry: You hear about that kid that was kidnapped the other day in
27. Pennsylvania?

28. Julianna: No.

29. Jerry: He was at a carnival with his mother. She goes to get a hot
30. dog, next thing you know she turns around, boom, he's gone.

31. Julianna: Oh.

32. Jerry: Imagine how sick a person has to be to do something like
33. that. And these people are all over the place. You never know who's
34. crazy, I could be one of these people.

35. Julianna (visibly uncomfortable): Have you seen any good movies?

This extract from the script shows that there is no direct relationship between entities and words; the listener’s task is to infer correctly which entity the speaker intends to identify by using a particular referring expression. In this example the listener (Julianna) misunderstands the idea of the speaker (Jerry) in relation to the kidnapped boy and the kind of people who do those actions. The listener feels uncomfortable with the speaker’s referring expression, in italics, and decides to change the subject of conversation.
3. Co-text
This is the linguistic environment in which a word is used.
EXAMPLE 1
75. Elaine: I have a good masseuse you could go to.

76. Jerry: Nah, she's really good and she's not just a masseuse, she's a
77. physical therapist. There's a big difference. She uses the
78. ultrasound, it's a real medical procedure.

This extract can be considered as the physical context of a medical explanation. It may crucially depend on familiarity with the local sociocultural conventions as the basis for inference. For that reason, reference is not simply a relationship between the meaning of a word or phrase and an object or person in the world. It is a social act, in which the speaker assumes that the word or phrase chosen to identify an object or a person will be interpreted as the speaker intended.

4. Anaphoric reference An anaphora is represented by a pro-form or some other kind of deictic expression, for instance, a pronoun referring to its antecedent.

EXAMPLE 1
209. Kramer: Why can't Joe DiMaggio have a donut like everyone else?

210. Jerry: He can have a donut, but not at Dinky.

In this example, there is an antecedent (Joe DiMaggio), the initial expression used to identify someone for which an anaphor is mentioned later. The word that functions as the anaphor is the pronoun in bold. This pronoun is used to maintain reference to someone already mentioned.

Cataphora

This is the use of a word (typically a pronoun) to introduce someone or something that is more fully identified later.
EXAMPLE 1

291. George: I was jumping over a puddle and for some reason I went like
292. this.(George stretches out his arms in a ballet motion) They called
293. me a Mary. So I chased them, and I tripped and I fell.

The first pronoun (I) is used to describe an expression that co-refers with a later expression in the discourse. In this case the pronoun (me) which refers to the speaker in a different way (He was called a Mary, as he was considered a girl).

Chapter 3: Presupposition and entailment

A presupposition is something that the speaker believes to be true even before he makes any utterance. An entailment is a logical consequence implied by the statement in an utterance.

1. Types of presupposition
Existential presupposition

It is the implication, through the use of a certain expression, that the speaker takes for granted the existence of a certain entity or person. This is conveyed by means of possessive constructions or any definite noun phrase.
EXAMPLE 1
5. these classes, where are these doctors? Is somewhere, someone saying
6. to their friend,
The possessive adjective “their” implies that the speaker assumes that the person referred to has a friend.

EXAMPLE 2
12. “I’ll give you the real medicine.” Through this utterance the speaker suggests that a real medicine exists in the world.

Factive presupposition The expressions that follow a verb like “know”, “realize”, “regret”, or phrases as “be aware”, “be odd”, “be glad” are taken for true and considered to be a fact. EXAMPLE 1
40. “I'm sure she did, I'm sure they're impeccable.”
EXAMPLE 2
64. “I know it was stupid.

Lexical presuppositions They are expressions by which a non-asserted meaning is interpreted by the listener as the result of the meaning of certain assertion. That is the case of verbs like “finished” in which the asserted idea is that “something ceased to happen” while the presupposed idea is that something “had happened up to that time”.
EXAMPLE 1
70. “Hey, would you stop it already?” In this case, Jerry implies that Elaine is saying something, and as he finds it annoying, he wants her to stop doing so.
.
Structural presupposition It is one special case of presupposition which is conveyed by the use of a certain grammatical structure. That is the case of wh-questions, by which the information contained in them is assumed to be true to the interlocutor.
EXAMPLE 1
15. “What do you think the worst part of being blind is?” The speaker assumes that his interlocutor is of the opinion that being blind is something bad.
EXAMPLE 2
36. “Who takes care of your boy during the day? The speaker takes for granted that someone takes care of the child during the day.

Non-factive presuppositions They are conveyed by verbs like “dream”, “imagine”, “pretend”, which suggest that the following assertion is not true.
EXAMPLE 1
47. Jerry: Neither do I, but I do it for them. I figure they're bored.

The verb figure stands for imagine and in this case, the assertion following may or may not be true.

Counter-factual presupposition It is a kind of assertion which makes explicit that facts are opposite to what it is presupposed. A characteristic structure that shows this presupposition is the conditional construction.
EXAMPLE 1
202. “I'm sorry, if Joe DiMaggio wants a donut he goes to a fancy
203. restaurant or a hotel. He's not sitting in Dinky Donuts”. Jerry means that if the man that Kramer saw were Joe Di Magio, the famous baseball player, he wouldn’t be sitting in Dinky Donuts.

2. Entailments
Background entailments By uttering a certain statement, a speaker expresses other ideas that are implied in the meaning of his utterance, and he commits himself to their truth.
EXAMPLE 1
29. Jerry: He was at a carnival with his mother.

When Jerry utters this sentence, he is committing himself to the truth of such background entailments as:
Somebody was at a carnival with his mother.
He was somewhere with his mother.
He was at a carnival with somebody.

Foreground entailments The speaker marks by means of a stronger stress the part of the sentence which is more important.
EXAMPLE 1
115. George: What if it felt good?
116. Elaine: It's supposed to feel good.

Elaine marks the word “supposed” with a stronger stress to show that this is her main assumption, and therefore her foreground entailment.
EXAMPLE 2
186. George: It moved! It was imperceptible but I felt it.

187. Jerry: Maybe it just wanted to change positions? You know, shift
188. to the other side.

189. George: No, no. It wasn't a shift, I've shifted, this was a move.

George shows with the stress he places on the words “wasn’t” and “move” which are the most relevant pieces of information in his utterance.

Chapter 4: Cooperation and implicature

Implicature

It is the additional meaning communicated by an utterance and recognized by all speakers in the common understanding that our interlocutors are being cooperative.

1. The cooperative principle It refers to the general idea that people involved in a conversation cooperate with each other for the sake of good communication. We can recognize four aspects in this cooperative principle which are expressed in four maxims. (Grice,1975)
Quantity maxim
1- Make your contribution as informative as is required.
2- Do not give more information than it is required.
EXAMPLE 1
147. Raymond: How did you hurt this?

148. George: I don't know.

149. Raymond: You don't know?

150. George: No.
151. Raymond: But you just told me--

152. George: Korea.

153. Raymond: You hurt it in Korea?

154. George: What?

155. Raymond: The hamstring.

156. George: Korea.

157. Raymond: How?

158. George: Hamstring.

159. Raymond: How did you hurt the hamstring?

160. George: Hotel.

In the example we see how George, who is very uncomfortable in the situation, answers Raymond’s questions with isolated words and flouts the quantity maxim, giving less information than that required by Raymond.
Quality maxim
Your contribution should be true. 1- Do not say what you believe to be false. 2- Do not say things without having adequate evidence of them.
EXAMPLE 1
363. Jerry: Hi. Look, I know I don't have an appointment but it's
364. really important that I talk with Julianna.

365. Receptionist: I'm sorry, Mr. Seinfeld, she's not in.

366. Jerry: Yeah, I know she's mad at me but I really have to speak with
367. her.

368. Receptionist: I told you, she's not here.

In this example the receptionist is deliberately not saying the truth and Jerry insists on talking to Julianna because he knows the receptionist is giving excuses and not being co-operative.
Relation:
Be relevant
EXAMPLE 1
382. Elaine: Well, I mean it's only six months probation, it's a slap on
383. the wrist.

384. Jerry: Yeah, I still don't see any dinner invitations forthcoming.

Apparently, Jerry’s comment has nothing to do with Elaine’s utterance and it seems to be flouting the maxim of relevance. However, there is connection between the two statements. Jerry means that even if the sentence of six months probation which Roy received is not a hard one, he may not be happy to see Jerry again or invite him to dinner.
Manner:
1- Avoid obscurity of expression. 2- Avoid ambiguity. 3- Be brief. 4- Be orderly.
EXAMPLE 1
275. Kramer: And nothing diverts his attention. Like, I'm uh, you know,
276. like I'm sitting in there, you know. And I start banging on the
277. table, you know, to uh, look up, you know, Like I'm sitting there
278. you know and uh, *bang* (slams the table) You know, *bang*

In the present example Kramer is neither clear, nor brief and what he tries to convey can only be understood if we see the scene acted. It can be interpreted because of the context provided by the situation in the scene.
Although not mentioned in a conversation, the principles of quantity, quality, relation and manner are assumed to be used by all interlocutors.

2. Hedges These are expressions used by speakers to indicate their interlocutors that what they are saying may not be accurate.
Quality
EXAMPLE 1
204. Kramer: Well maybe he likes Dinky Donuts.

The word “maybe” shows a hedge because the speaker is not sure if the information he is giving does not violate the maxim of quality.
Quantity
EXAMPLE 1
29. Jerry: He was at a carnival with his mother. She goes to get a hot
30. dog, next thing you know she turns around, boom, he's gone.

The word “boom” stands for a hedge, and shortens the narration. The speaker is aware of the fact that he may flout the quality of quantity if he gives a long account of the story.
Relation
EXAMPLE 1
57. Jerry: Well so she mentioned that she had a son, and then for some
58. reason I launch into the story about the kid from Pennsylvania who
59. was abducted.

The expression “for some reason” is used as a hedge because the speaker is aware of the fact that the interlocutors may find the topics in his conversation with the physical therapist a bit unconnected.
Manner
EXAMPLE 1
198. Kramer: I just saw Joe DiMaggio in Dinky Donuts. You know, I
199. looked in there and there he was having coffee and a donut. The phrase “You know” is used by Kramer as a hedge to indicate that he knows that it may sound a little odd to his friends that a famous basketball player should be in a cheap coffee shop as Dinky Donuts.

3. Conversational implicature This is a way which speakers use to imply more than they are really saying, and it is intended for the listener to infer this additional meaning.

4. Generalized conversational implicatures Generalized conversational implicatures are those which do not require from the listener a special knowledge of the context in order to be correctly interpreted. Some are conveyed by means of the use of the indefinite article + noun, and their meaning is that the things named do not belong in any way to the speaker.
EXAMPLE 1
205. George: I don't even like to sit next to a man on an airplane
206. 'cause our knees might touch.

The expressions “a man” and “an airplane” are generalized conversational implicatures.

5. Scalar implicatures Among generalized conversational implicatures, we find scalar implicatures. These involve the use of a word which expresses a certain value within a scale and therefore, it implies the negation of all values higher on that scale.
EXAMPLE 1
85. Jerry: Well I've never actually done it but if I really wanted to I
86. could probably get one from my friend Roy, the dentist
The adverbs “never” and “probably” are examples of scalar implicature.

6. Particularized conversational implicatures These conversational implicatures require knowledge of specific contexts in order to make correct inferences of the meaning of an utterance. The apparent flouting of one of the maxims is intended for the listener to understand that an additional meaning is implied.
EXAMPLE 1
280....No reaction because
281. the guy is so focused, you see, he can just block out anything
282 that's going on around him. See, that's how he played baseball. He
283. dunks like he hits.

This passage is an example of particularized conversational implicature because the listener needs certain background information about the way baseball is played in order to understand the utterance.

By adding certain expressions, conversational implicatures can be denied, cancelled or reinforced.
EXAMPLE 1
76. Jerry: Nah, she's really good and she's not just a masseuse, she's a
77. physical therapist. There's a big difference. She uses the
78. ultrasound, it's a real medical procedure. In fact, if you get a
79. doctor's note, it's covered by insurance.

The expression “in fact” is used to introduce additional information which reinforces the idea that physical therapy is a real medical procedure.

7. Conventional implicatures They are neither based on the cooperative principle, nor related to particular contexts for their interpretation. Conventional implicatures refer to the additional meanings implied with the use of certain words in the utterance.
But: contrast
EXAMPLE 1
96. George: Excuse me, did you say 'Raymond'?

97. Receptionist: Yes.

98. George: But, uh, Raymond is a man.

But expresses contrast between what George expected and what he found.

Even: contrary to expectation
EXAMPLE 1
62. George: Not even an apple.

George expected to find at least an apple in Jerry’s fridge.

Yet: expected to be different or opposite at a later time

And: it may have two different meanings. When joining two statements conveying static information, it implies addition.
EXAMPLE 1
300. Kramer (singing): ...just a man and not a freak, Joltin' Joe
301. DiMaggio. Joe, Joe. Go, Joe...

In this instance, it shows addition.
When joining statements with dynamic, action-related information, it implies sequence (and then)
EXAMPLE 1
412. anything. What if I accidentally wander into some sort of
413. homosexual store, thinking it's a shoe store, and the salesman goes,
414. 'Just hold this guy's hand, walk around the store a little bit, see
415. how you feel.
EXAMPLE 2
376. Julianna (releasing her child): Run Billy! Run to the office and
377. close the door! (to the receptionist) Call the police!

In both cases, and expresses sequence.

Chapter 5: Speech acts and events

Those actions carried out through utterances are called speech acts. They can be apologies, complaints, compliments, invitations, promises, or requests according to the speaker’s communicative intention. The circumstances that surround speech acts, together with other utterances play a decisive role in the interpretation of their implied meaning. These elements taken as a whole make up speech events.

1. Speech act When producing an utterance, every speaker performs three different acts. First, they produce a locutionary act, which involves the production of a meaningful linguistic expression. Second, they perform an illocutionary act, which is conveyed through the communicative force – illocutionary force - or purpose that speakers have in mind when they utter the message. Finally, the utterance is a perlocutionary act. The speaker will utter a message for the listener to interpret and with the intention of producing a certain effect – perlocutionary effect - on him or her.

EXAMPLE 1
102. George: What, are you crazy? I can't have a man touching me.
103. Switch with me.

The last sentence of the utterance is a locutionary act because it is a meaningful linguistic expression. It also constitutes an illocutionary act because it expresses an offer, and finally, it is a perlocutionary act since it is intended to persuade the interlocutor (Elaine) to change her course of action.

2. IFIDs The Illocutionary Force Indicating Device is an expression used to explicitly indicate the illocutionary force of an utterance by including a verb which describes it unmistakably.
I (Vp) you that… Such verbs are called performative verbs. Some of them are “promise”, “apologize” and “warn”.
EXAMPLE 1
256. down) Can I at least just talk to her so I can apologize? This is not a clear case of an IFID because it is not expressed using the common pattern, but the performative verb is present and shows the intention of the speaker.
EXAMPLE 1
363. Jerry: Hi. Look, I know I don't have an appointment but it's
364. really important that I talk with Julianna.

365. Receptionist: I'm sorry, Mr. Seinfeld, she's not in.

366. Jerry: Yeah, I know she's mad at me but I really have to speak with
367. her.

368. Receptionist: I told you, she's not here.

EXAMPLE 2

213. Kramer: Look I'm telling-- (he does a double take and looks at
214. George) I'm telling you, that was Joe DiMaggio.

The verbs “told” and “am telling” in the examples are not exactly performative, but they describe the speech act that the speaker performs and its illocutionary force. Other devices that serve the same purpose of indicating illocutionary force are word order, stress and intonation.
EXAMPLE 1

211. George: I don't even like to use urinals, I've always been a stall
212. man.

222. Kramer: A stall man, huh?

This is an instance of intonation as IFID. Kramer’s remark is a request for confirmation about George’s previous statement.
EXAMPLE 2
226. Jerry: I mean, if you feel funny about it at all.

227. George: He doesn't feel funny.

228. Jerry: If he does.

229. George: Do you feel funny? He didn't say anything.

In this case, the IFIDs used are word order and intonation in the question in which George asks Roy something that Jerry has suggested in a previous remark.

3. Felicity conditions Whenever a speech act is performed, there are certain appropriate circumstances which have to accompany it in order for the speech act to be recognized as intended. These are called felicity conditions, and among them we can identify:
General conditions: that the participants can understand the language and that they are not play-acting.
EXAMPLE 1
288. Jerry: What happened to you?
289. George: One of those kids called me a Mary.
290. Elaine: A what?
291. George: I was jumping over a puddle and for some reason I went like
292. this.(George stretches out his arms in a ballet motion) They called
293. me a Mary. So I chased them, and I tripped and I fell. Jerry asks for clarification because he does not understand the expression “a Mary” used by George.

Content conditions: related to the kind of utterance. If it is a complaint, it must be about something that the speaker believes to be unfair or not deserved.
EXAMPLE 1
297. Jerry: Hello? Oh, hi Roy. What? Oh my god, how did this happen?
298. What can I do? Oh. I am so sorry. Okay. Bye. (Hangs up) That
299. was Roy. He's under investigation for insurance fraud.

The content condition for the present apology is that Jerry has done something wrong. In fact, he has asked Roy for three notes and this is the reason why he is under investigation for insurance fraud.

Preparatory conditions: different for different types of utterances.
EXAMPLE 1
306. Jerry: He's got a house, a family, they could take away his
307. license. You should have heard him. Three notes, how stupid was
308. that? We never should have got three notes. Jerry regrets having asked Roy for three notes. The preparatory conditions for an act of regretting are two: first, that it is about something that did not happen by itself, and second, that it has or will have a negative effect.
Sincerity condition: the speaker really means what he says. Considering the same situation, in order to be felicitous, it is necessary for a regret to be sincere on the part of the speaker.

Essential condition: The speaker has the true intention of doing as he announces.
EXAMPLE 1
297. Jerry: Hello? Oh, hi Roy. What? Oh my god, how did this happen?
298. What can I do? Oh. I am so sorry. Okay. Bye. (Hangs up) That
299. was Roy. He's under investigation for insurance fraud. The speaker changes from a state of non-being sorry to a state of communicating he is sorry for a certain reason.

4. The performative hypothesis

According to the author, underlying every utterance there is a clause including a performative verb which makes its illocutionary force explicit. This clause can be stated as follows:
I (hereby) Vp you (that) U
, where Vp means performative verb and U means utterance. Utterances presented in this form are called explicit performatives and have a strong impact; while utterances with the same meaning but not constructed with this pattern are called implicit or primary performatives and sound less serious. In the present script there are no examples of explicit performatives.
EXAMPLE 1
297. Hello? Oh, hi Roy. What? Oh my god, how did this happen?
298. What can I do? Oh. I am so sorry. Okay. Bye. The part of the utterance “I am so sorry.” is an apology and an implicit or primary performative.

There are no performative verbs for some utterances, so that not all implicit performatives can be made explicit.

5. Speech act classification One general classification system of speech acts includes five types of general functions carried out by speech acts:
Declarations: Speech acts that when uttered produce a change in the world. They have to be uttered by a certain person in a specific context. No examples can be found in the script.

Representatives: They are statements of fact, assertions, conclusions and descriptions. They state what the speaker believes to be true.
EXAMPLE 1
306. Jerry: He's got a house, a family, they could take away his
307. license. The speaker asserts something he believes to be true about the situation of Roy.
Expressives: speech acts that state what the speaker feels, for example, pleasure, pain, likes, dislikes, joy or sorrow.
EXAMPLE 1
73. George: This is terrible. What is this, ginger? I hate ginger. I
74. can't understand how anyone can eat ginger. The speaker shows a strong dislike with this utterance.
Directives: These are intended to make someone do something. They are commands, orders, requests and suggestions.
EXAMPLE 1
93. Receptionist: George and Elaine, right? Could you fill these out
94. for me please? The receptionist utters a polite request, because she wants to get Elaine and George to complete the forms.
Commisives: Through these speech acts, speakers commit themselves to a future action.
EXAMPLE 1
89. Jerry: I'll tell you, but don't ask her anything about her kid, she’s
90. a little off. Through this utterance, the speaker commits himself to tell his interlocutors the name of the physical therapist.

6. Direct and indirect speech acts A different type of classification can be made taking into account the structure of a speech act. According to it, there are three different types:
Declaratives: expressed with a statement.
EXAMPLE 1
50. There's nothing to eat in here. The speaker is making a statement by means of a declarative sentence.
Interrogatives: expressed through a question.
EXAMPLE 1
54.George: Why don't you ever go shopping? The speaker utters a question using an interrogative sentence.
Imperatives: expressed via a command.
EXAMPLE 1
374. Julianna: I treated you, so please, just get out of the office! The speaker expresses a command through an imperative. When the structure of the utterance coincides with the function that the utterance is performing, we have a direct speech act. If the structure used is not that typically assigned to its function, we have an indirect speech act. The examples given in this section are direct speech acts. But some indirect speech acts can be exemplified as follows.
EXAMPLE 1
223. Jerry: ...so we were just kinda wondering if it was possible for
224. you to write us a note, and if you can't, believe me, it's fine. This rather long statement is, in fact, a very polite and tactful request to Roy for a note.
EXAMPLE 2
52. Jerry: I'm in the middle of a story. By uttering this statement, Jerry is in fact ordering Elaine not to interrupt him while he is telling a story.

7. Speech events These are sets of utterances which take place among speakers who have a social relationship of some kind, and who interact via language to arrive to some outcome which is the particular goal of some or all of the speakers.

EXAMPLE 1
223. Jerry: ...so we were just kinda wondering if it was possible for
224. you to write us a note, and if you can't, believe me, it's fine.
225. George: He didn't say he can't.

226. Jerry: I mean, if you feel funny about it at all.

227. George: He doesn't feel funny.
228. Jerry: If he does.

229. George: Do you feel funny? He didn't say anything.

230. Jerry: He feels funny. You don't have to do this.

231. George: He knows that!

232. Jerry: Roy, should we go? Is this a breach of our friendship?

233. George: Oh, can you be any more dramatic?

234. Roy: Don't be ridiculous. This is an example of a speech event in which three people interact. Two speakers request something from the third one. With his final remark, he agrees to do what they want.

Chapter 6: Politeness and interaction

1. Politeness It is a concept that refers to a number of different interactions within a particular culture and these might include being tactful, generous, modest and sympathetic towards others. Politeness in an interaction is defined as the means employed to show awareness of another person´s face (that is the public self-image of a person that can be positive or negative) and it can be accomplished in situations of social distance or closeness. As regards social distance, negative politeness is accomplished when using formal vocabulary, especially when showing detachment. However, the term negative does not mean “bad”, it is just the opposite of positive.

EXAMPLE 1
93. Receptionist: George and Elaine, right? Could you fill these out
94. for me please? And Elaine, you´ll be seeing Julianna, and George,
95. you´ll be with Raymond.
96. George: Excuse me, did you say “Raymond”?
97. Receptionist: Yes. This is an example of negative politeness. Two speakers are interacting and one is giving instructions and procedures while the other one marks social distance by asking in a formal way.

A face saving act which is oriented to the person´s negative face will tend to show deference and will include an apology for the imposition or interruption. A face saving act which is concerned with the person´s positive face will tend to show solidarity, emphasize that both speakers have a common goal and want the same thing. This is called positive politeness.

EXAMPLE 2
360. Roy: She just has to say the complaint was related to a dental
361. problem.
The woman in the chair wakes up and looks at Jerry and George.
362. George: How ya doing?

This is an example of positive politeness where it is clear that George´s face saving act appeals a common goal with his expression.

2. Face wants It is the public self-image. If a speaker says something that represents a threat to another person regarding self-image it is called a face threatening act. Alternatively, an action can be interpreted as a threat to another´s face and the speaker can say something to lessen the possible threat. This is called a face saving act. There are many ways of performing face saving acts. This is a clear example.

EXAMPLE 3
Him: I´m going to tell him to stop that cracking noise now! (face threatening act)
Her: Perhaps you could ask him if he is going to stop soon because people need to sleep (face saving act)

3. Say something: off and on record Statements that are not directly addressed to the other are technically described as being off record. You can simply produce a statement of the type in “I forgot my pen” in this case more has been communicated than said and the interlocutor can understand the need for a pen. In contrast to such statement, you can directly address the other as a means of expressing your needs. These direct address forms are technically described as being on record. The other person is directly asked for something, as in “give me a pen” Examples of a bald on record form may be followed by expressions like “please” and “would you” and they are used to soften the demand. They are also called mitigating devices. There have been no examples that can be marked in the text because in every-day interaction between social equals, such bald on record behaviour would potentially represent a threat to the other´s face and would generally be avoided.

4. Positive and negative politeness In most English speaing contexts a face saving act is more commonly performed via a negative politeness strategy. That is to say using strategies in the form of questions containing a modal verb such as could, might and may. Other strategies when using positive politeness forms can be seen as solidarity strategies in the form of “let´s”.

Chapter 7: Conversation and preference structure

1. Conversation analysis When there is interpersonal exchange of talk, the conversation structure is seen as a crucial aspect of pragmatics. In any situation there is always an order to follow.
Floor: the right to speak
Turn: the control of the floor
Turn taking: when there is no control
Local management system: where the turn taking operates; it is a set of conventions for getting turns.

2. Pauses, overlaps, and backchannels These terms refer to the transitions with a long silence between turns. For example, overlap occurs when both speakers try to speak at the same time. There are also backchannels signals that are represented by common vocal indicators (uh-uh, yeah, mmm) and there are others such as nods, smiles, and other facial expressions and gestures.

EXAMPLE 4
80. George: Physical therapy is covered by insurance?
81. Jerry: Yeah.
82. George: You don't have to pay for the massage?
83. Jerry: Not if you have a doctor's note.

Adjacency pairs are automatic sequences and they always consist of a first part and a second part produced by different speakers because utterances create expectation. For example:

First part Second part
A: What´s up? B: Nothin´much

Preference structure divides second parts into preferred and dispreferred social acts. In the following examples, there is clear evidence of patterns associated with dispreferred second in English.

EXAMPLE 5

Dispreferred second that show delay or hesitate (so):
71. Elaine: So, what did she say?
72. Jerry: I don't know, she actually seemed to get a little paranoid.

Dispreferred second that show preface (well):
85. Jerry: Well I've never actually done it but if I really wanted to I
86. could probably get one from my friend Roy, the dentist.
87. George: Right, your friend Roy.

Dispreferred second that show the use of mitigators (really, kinda):
180. George: He got about two inches from... there.
181. Jerry: Really?

New scene.
George and Jerry are in Roy's office.

223. Jerry: ...so we were just kinda wondering if it was possible for
224. you to write us a note, and if you can't, believe me, it's fine.
225. George: He didn't say he can't.

Dispreferred second that show appeal for understanding (you see, you know):

274. Elaine: Why couldn't he be a dunker?
275. Kramer: And nothing diverts his attention. Like, I'm uh, you know,
276. like I'm sitting in there, you know. And I start banging on the
277. table, you know, to uh, look up, you know, Like I'm sitting there
278. you know and uh, *bang* (slams the table) You know, *bang* He
279. wouldn't move. So then I start doing these yelping noises. Like,
280. *yip* (high pitched yelping noises) *yip*. No reaction because
281. the guy is so focused, you see, he can just block out anything
282. that's going on around him. See, that's how he played baseball. He 283. dunks like he hits.

Chapter 8: Discourse and culture

Discourse analysis covers a wide range of activities and focuses on the record of the process by which language is used in some context to express intention. Generally, what language users have most in mind is an assumption of coherence, that what is said or written will make sense in terms of their normal experience of things. Our ability to arrive automatically at interpretations of the unwritten and the unsaid must be based on pre-existing knowledge structures (schemata). When schemata are considered they are described as scripts. A script is a pre-existent knowledge structure involving event sequences.

EXAMPLE 1
291. George: I was jumping over a puddle and for some reason I went like
292. this.(George stretches out his arms in a ballet motion) They called
293. me a Mary. So I chased them, and I tripped and I fell.
294. Kramer: Yeah, you know kids, they can be very perceptive.

In this example, part of the speaker’s normal script for jumping over a puddle involves the action of stretching his arms in a ballet position. Everything else that happened in this event sequence is assumed to be shared background knowledge.

Chapter 9: Identification and application The following utterances are possible ways to practice what has been taught in the previous chapters, again resorting to the same episode in the sitcom. 1. To recognize ‘deixis and distance’ What types of deixis do you think can be drawn from the following utterances? 1.1 Text before utterance:

George: You don't have to pay for the massage?

Jerry: Not if you have a doctor's note.

Elaine: So where do you get this note?

Jerry: Well I've never actually done it but if I really wanted to I could probably get one from my friend Roy, the dentist.

George: Right, your friend Roy.

Utterance for analysis:

Elaine: What's the name of this physical therapist?

Jerry: I'll tell you, but don't ask her anything about her kid, she’s a little off.

Key: To recognize ‘deixis and distance’ This utterance can be considered to be person deixis which operates on a basic three-part division, the speaker (I), the listener (you) and a third person (she) mentioned. 3. To recognize “types of presupposition” What kinds of presupposition can you identify in the following texts? 3.1. Utterance for analysis: 313. Elaine: But I got my own note. Text after utterance: 314. Jerry: You what? 315. Elaine: I got a note from my gynecologist 3.2. Utterance for analysis: 131. Raymond: So what do you do? Text after utterance: 132. George: What?

133. Raymond: I said, 'What do you do?' 134. George: I don't know.

3.2. To identify “entailments” Explain background and foreground entailments in the following utterance. Utterance for analysis: 262. Elaine: Hey, you scrunched me. I sat down here first. Text before utterance: 261. Jerry: Well you were too close to me, I was all scrunched in there.

4.1. To identify the “maxims of the cooperative principle” Are any of the maxims of quantity, quality, relevance or manner flouted in the following utterance? Explain Utterance for analysis: 234. Roy: Don't be ridiculous. Text before utterance: 230. Jerry: He feels funny. You don't have to do this. 231. George: He knows that! 232. Jerry: Roy, should we go? Is this a breach of our friendship? 233. George: Oh, can you be any more dramatic?

4.3 To recognize “implicatures” What types of implicature can you find in the texts?

4.3.1. Utterance for analysis: 266. Kramer: Joe DiMaggio, you know this time I went in and sat down 267. across from him and I really watched him.

4.3.2. Utterance for analysis: 241. George: I mean he's a good fighter and a nice guy but I don't like 242. him.

Text before utterance: 238. Roy: Do you like him?

239. George: What do you mean, like him?

240. Roy: Do you like him?

4.3.3. Utterance for analyses: 308. Jerry: We never should have got three notes.

Text before utterance: 306. Jerry: He's got a house, a family, they could take away his 307. license. You should have heard him. Three notes, how stupid was 308. that?

5.1. To recognize “felicity conditions” Name the felicity conditions for the speech act below. Utterance for analysis: 288. Jerry: What happened to you? Text before utterance: George enters, his pants are ripped at the knee.

5.2. To recognise “speech act classification”. What type of speech act can you find in the following example?

5 .2.1. Utterance for analysis: 311. Elaine: You got me a note? Text before utterance: 309. Elaine: Three notes? 310. Jerry: Yeah, you, me and George.

5.3. To recognize “speech events” What is the function of the speech event below? Utterance for analysis: 254. (Jerry tries to sit down on the couch, but Elaine is too close to 255. the end and he has to squeeze in between her and the arm to sit 256. down) Looks at Elaine for a moment) What's with you? 260. Elaine: What? 261. Jerry: Well you were too close to me, I was all scrunched in there. 262. Elaine: Hey, you scrunched me. I sat down here first.

7.2 To recognize ‘preface and mitigators’ What types of patterns associated with a dispreferred second in English do you think can be drawn from the following exchanges of conversation? 176. George: And then I took my pants off.

177. Jerry: You took your pants off?

178. George: For my hamstring.

179. Jerry: Oh.

180. George: He got about two inches from... there.

181. Jerry: Really?

182. George: I think it moved.

183. Jerry: Moved?

184. George: It may have moved, I don't know.

Conclusion

As pragmatics is the study of speaker meaning, we hope to have shown through the analysis of the sitcom what people mean in everyday context and how context influences what people say. The sitcom is useful to express that in real life conversations there are a lot of situations that help to distinguish the different contexts in which meaning plays a major role. The relationship between linguistic forms and the users of those forms is clearly seen through the sitcom and also serve as a way to interpret contextual meaning. The fact that filmed material provides the opportunity to see language in use allows the viewer to appreciate correspondence between language use and paralinguistic behaviour. Most importantly, we also hope the present essay has offered examples suitable to each of the categories of analysis we have dealt with in its pages.

Bibliography

• AMADO, Sebastian, Academic Writing: Understanding Discourse, English Training College ‘Lenguas Vivas Juan Ramón Fernandez’, 2006

• THORNBURY, Scott. Beyond the sentence: Macmillan Books for teachers, 2005

• YULE, George. (1996) Pragmatics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Appendix: The Script

The Note
Written by: Larry David
Episode no. 18 pc: 301, season 3, episode 1
Broadcast date: September 18, 1991

The Cast

Regulars:
Jerry Seinfeld................... Jerry Seinfeld
Jason Alexander.................. George Costanza
Julia Louis-Dreyfus.............. Elaine Benes
Michael Richards................. Cosmo Kramer

Guest Stars:

Ralph Bruneau.................... Lloyd
Terri Hanauer.................... Julianna
Jeff Lester...................... Raymond
Flo Di Re........................ Receptionist
Liz Georges...................... Pam
Paul Rogers...................... Man in Waiting Room
Dale Raoul....................... Dental Patient
Joshua Liebling.................. Billy

1. Every time somebody recommends a doctor, he's always the best. "Oh, is
2. he good?" "Oh, he's the best. This guy's the best." They can't all
3.be the best.
4.There can't be this many bests. Someone's graduating at the bottom of
5.these classes, where are these doctors? Is somewhere, someone saying
6.to their friend, "You should see my doctor, he's the worst. Oh yeah,
7. he's the worst, he's the absolute worst there is. Whatever you've
8. got, it'll be worse after you see him.
9.He's just, he's a butcher. The man's a butcher."? And then there's
10.always that, "Make sure that you tell him that, you know, you know
11. me." Why? What's the difference? He's a doctor. What is it, "Oh,
12.you know Bob! Okay, I'll give you the real medicine. Everybody else,
13. I'm giving Tic-Tacs."

First scene.
Jerry is getting a massage.

14. Julianna: ...And usually for lunch I'll have a salad, and for dinner, I eat whatever I want.

15. Jerry: What do you think the worst part of being blind is?

16. Julianna: Excuse me?

17. Jerry: You know, if you were blind what do you think the worst part
18. of it would be?

19. Julianna: I don't know.

20. Jerry: I think it would be not being able to tell if there was bugs
21. in my food.

22. How could you ever enjoy a meal like that? I'd constantly be feeling
23. around Wit h my lips and my tongue.

24. Julianna: Well that's how my five-year old eats. He's a very picky
25. eater.

26. Jerry: You hear about that kid that was kidnapped the other day in
27. Pennsylvania?

28. Julianna: No.

29. Jerry: He was at a carnival with his mother. She goes to get a hot
30. dog, next thing you know she turns around, boom, he's gone.

31. Julianna: Oh.

32. Jerry: Imagine how sick a person has to be to do something like
33. that. And these people are all over the place. You never know who's
34. crazy, I could be one of these people.

35. Julianna (visibly uncomfortable): Have you seen any good movies?

36. Jerry: Who takes care of your boy during the day?

37. Julianna: We have a woman. Why?

38. Jerry: No no. I'm just saying.

39. Julianna: She had references.

40. Jerry: I'm sure she did, I'm sure they're impeccable. I'm talking
41. about the ones that forge them. You know I think this is really
42. helping.

43. Julianna: I don't live near here, ya know!

New scene.
Jerry, Elaine and George are at Jerry's apartment.

44. Jerry: So she's giving me the massage and I'm just making
45.conversation.

46. Elaine: I don't like to talk during a massage.

47. Jerry: Neither do I, but I do it for them. I figure they're bored.

48. George: Yeah, I do that too. I feel guilty about getting the
49. pleasure. I feel like I don't deserve it so I talk. It stops me
50. from enjoying it. There's nothing to eat in here.

51. Elaine: Oh! I forgot to tell you--

52. Jerry: I'm in the middle of a story.

53. Elaine: Okay, go ahead.

54.George: Why don't you ever go shopping?

55. Jerry: Not like it's a really funny story or anything.

56. Elaine: What happened?

57. Jerry: Well so she mentioned that she had a son, and the for some
58. reason I launch into the story about the kid from Pennsylvania who
59. was abducted.

60. Elaine: Oh, wasn't that terrible?

61. Jerry: Yes, it was.

62. George: Not even an apple.

63. Elaine: She doesn't want to hear that, that was stupid.

64. Jerry: I know it was stupid.

65. Elaine: Really stupid.

66. Jerry: Hey, I just said it was stupid.

67. George: What about this leftover Chinese food?

68. Jerry: Take it.

69. Elaine: I can't believe you said that.

70. Jerry: Hey, would you stop it already?

71. Elaine: So, what did she say?

72. Jerry: I don't know, she actually seemed to get a little paranoid.

73. George: This is terrible. What is this, ginger? I hate ginger. I
74. can't understand how anyone can eat ginger.

75. Elaine: I have a good masseuse you could go to.

76. Jerry: Nah, she's really good and she's not just a masseuse, she's a
77. physical therapist. There's a big difference. She uses the
78. ultrasound, it's a real medical procedure. In fact, if you get a
79. doctor's note, it's covered by insurance.

80. George: Physical therapy is covered by insurance?

81. Jerry: Yeah.

82. George: You don't have to pay for the massage?

83. Jerry: Not if you have a doctor's note.

84. Elaine: So where do you get this note?

85. Jerry: Well I've never actually done it but if I really wanted to I
86. could probably get one from my friend Roy, the dentist.

87. George: Right, your friend Roy.

88. Elaine: What's the name of this physical therapist?

89. Jerry: I'll tell you, but don't ask her anything about her kid, she
90. a little off.

91. George: And you don't have to pay.

New scene.
George and Elaine are at the physical therapist's office.

92. George: We have three-o'clock appointments.

93. Receptionist: George and Elaine, right? Could you fill these out
94. for me please? And Elaine, you'll be seeing Julianna, and George,
95. you'll be with Raymond.

96. George: Excuse me, did you say 'Raymond'?

97. Receptionist: Yes.

98. George: But, uh, Raymond is a man.

99. Receptionist: That's right.

George sits down slowly, letting this sink in.

100. George: I can't get a massage from a man.

101. Elaine: Why not?

102. George: What, are you crazy? I can't have a man touching me.
103. Switch with me.

104. Elaine: No, I don't want the man either.

105. George: What's the difference, you're a woman. They're supposed to
106. be touching you.

107. Elaine: He'd just be touching your back.

108. George: He'd just be touching your back too.

109. Elaine: No, it could get sexual.

110. George: I know. That's the point. If it's gonna get sexual, it
111. should get sexual with you.

112. Elaine: I wouldn't be comfortable.

113. George: I would? What if something happens?

114. Elaine: What could happen?

115. George: What if it felt good?

116. Elaine: It's supposed to feel good.

117. George: I don't want it to feel good.

118. Elaine: Then why get the massage?

119. George: Exactly!

A man walks up dressed in white.

120. Raymond: George?

121. George: Yes?

122. Raymond: I'm Raymond.

123. George: Hello.

124. Raymond: Are you ready?

George gets up cautiously and walks with Raymond.

New scene.
George is on the table getting a massage from Raymond. George appears extremely uncomfortable.

125. Raymond: ...And then Julianna asked me if I wanted to join her here in the office. 126. George: Really.

127. Raymond: I used to be a flight attendant.

128. George: Oh boy.

129. Raymond: Ya know, why don't you open those pants, it's gonna be a
130. lot easier that way.

George loosens his pants, Raymond grabs them and yanks then down his hips then starts massaging his lower back.

131. Raymond: So what do you do?

132. George: What?

133. Raymond: I said, 'What do you do?'.

134. George: I don't know.

135. Raymond: You don't know what you do?

136. George: Nah.

137. Raymond: Oh, come on. Hey, you're very tense.

138. George: Coffee. Too much coffee.

139. Raymond: Okay, just take off those pants now, I'll work the
140. hamstring.

141. George: Oh, the hamstring's fine.

142. Raymond: But you wrote that it was tender.

143. George: I wrote. Pfft, *I* wrote.

144. Raymond: I'll check it out.

145. George: Are you sure?

146. Raymond: Yeah, take 'em off.

George gets up to remove his pants, he looks over and sees Raymond rubbing his hands with oil. Nervous, George pulls his pants down and climbs back on the table. As soon as Raymond touches his leg, George becomes rigid with discomfort.

147. Raymond: How did you hurt this?

148. George: I don't know.

149. Raymond: You don't know?

150. George: No.

151. Raymond: But you just told me--

152. George: Korea.

153. Raymond: You hurt it in Korea?

154. George: What?

155. Raymond: The hamstring.

156. George: Korea.

157. Raymond: How?

158. George: Hamstring.

159. Raymond: How did you hurt the hamstring?

160. George: Hotel.

New scene.
Elaine is in the waiting room, George walks out very slowly, he appears positively shell-shocked.

161. Elaine: How'd it go? George?

162. George walks right out the door, ignoring Elaine.

New scene.
Jerry's apartment, Jerry is on the phone.

163. Jerry: No appointments at all? Because my neck is still tight.
164. What about Thursday? And Friday? Oh boy. Okay, thanks anyway.

George enters acting nervous.

165. Jerry: What's with you?

166. George: A...

167. Jerry: Yes, A...?

168. George: A man gave me...

169. Jerry: Yes, a man gave you...?

170.George: A man gave me... a massage.

171. Jerry: So?

172. George: So he... had his hands and, uh, he was...

173. Jerry: He was what?!

174. George: He was... touching and rubbing.

175. Jerry: That's a massage.

176. George: And then I took my pants off.

177. Jerry: You took your pants off?

178. George: For my hamstring.

179. Jerry: Oh.

180. George: He got about two inches from... there.

181. Jerry: Really?

182. George: I think it moved.

183. Jerry: Moved?

184. George: It may have moved, I don't know.

185. Jerry: I'm sure it didn't move.

186. George: It moved! It was imperceptible but I felt it.

187. Jerry: Maybe it just wanted to change positions? You know, shift
188. to the other side.

189. George: No, no. It wasn't a shift, I've shifted, this was a move.

190. Jerry: Okay, so what if it moved?

191. George: That's the sign! The test; if a man makes it move.

192. Jerry: That's not the test. Contact is the test, if it moves as a
193. result of contact.

194. George: You think it's contact? It has to be touched?

195. Jerry: That's what a gym teacher once told me.

Kramer enters.

196. Kramer: Hey.

197. Jerry: Hey.

198. Kramer: I just saw Joe DiMaggio in Dinky Donuts. You know, I
199. looked in there and there he was having coffee and a donut.

200. Jerry: Joe DiMaggio? In Dinky Donuts?

201. Kramer: Yeah. Joe DiMaggio.

202. Jerry: I'm sorry, if Joe DiMaggio wants a donut he goes to a fancy
203. restaurant or a hotel. He's not sitting in Dinky Donuts.

204. Kramer: Well maybe he likes Dinky Donuts.

205. George: I don't even like to sit next to a man on an airplane
206. 'cause our knees might touch.

207. Jerry: I can't see Joe DiMaggio sitting at the counter in little
208. tiny filthy smelly Dinky Donuts.

209. Kramer: Why can't Joe DiMaggio have a donut like everyone else?

210. Jerry: He can have a donut, but not at Dinky.

211. George: I don't even like to use urinals, I've always been a stall
212. man.

213. Kramer: Look I'm telling-- (he does a double take and looks at
214. George) I'm telling you, that was Joe DiMaggio.
214. George: The guy slept with Marilyn Monroe, he's in Dinky Donuts.
215. What about this doctor's note? Let's go see your friend Roy.

216. Jerry: I never said I'd do that.

217. George: What are you talking about, that's seventy-five bucks! I'm
218. not working, I can't afford that.

219. Jerry: I don't know how I feel about it.

220. George: Oh, what are you, like, a Quaker now?

221. Jerry: Alright, alright.

222. Kramer: A stall man, huh?

New scene.
George and Jerry are in Roy's office.

223. Jerry: ...so we were just kinda wondering if it was possible for
224. you to write us a note, and if you can't, believe me, it's fine.

225. George: He didn't say he can't.

226. Jerry: I mean, if you feel funny about it at all.

227. George: He doesn't feel funny.

228. Jerry: If he does.

229. George: Do you feel funny? He didn't say anything.

230. Jerry: He feels funny. You don't have to do this.

231. George: He knows that!

232. Jerry: Roy, should we go? Is this a breach of our friendship?

233. George: Oh, can you be any more dramatic?

234. Roy: Don't be ridiculous. (Notices George looking at a poster on
235. the wall) Holyfield. He's a good friend of one of my patients.
236. He's got a hell of a body, doesn't he?

237. George: How would I know?

238. Roy: Do you like him?

239. George: What do you mean, like him?

240. Roy: Do you like him?

241. George: I mean he's a good fighter and a nice guy but I don't like
242. him.

243. Roy: How come you don't like him?

244. George: Why should I?

245. Jerry: What is the matter with you?

246. George: Nothing, why? You think something's wrong? Am I
247. different?

248. Roy: So, you want the notes?

249. Jerry: You don't have to, really.

250. Roy: Nah nah, it's ok.

251. Jerry: We should probably get one for Elaine, too, right George?
252. (turns to George, who is staring intently at the Holyfield poster)
253. George?

New scene.
Jerry and Elaine are at Jerry's apartment, Jerry is on the phone.

254. Jerry: Well what about the week after? No appointments at all?
255. (Jerry tries to sit down on the couch, but Elaine is too close to
255. the end and he has to squeeze in between her and the arm to sit
256. down) Can I at least just talk to her so I can apologize? Forget
257. it. (Hangs up) I can't believe this, I make one innocent comment
258. about some lunatic in Pennsylvania and I'm cut off. This woman is
259. insane. (Looks at Elaine for a moment) What's with you?

260. Elaine: What?

261. Jerry: Well you were too close to me, I was all scrunched in there.

262. Elaine: Hey, you scrunched me. I sat down here first.

Kramer enters.

263. Kramer: Hey, I saw DiMaggio in the donut shop again.

264. Jerry: Uh huh.

265. Elaine: Joe DiMaggio?

266. Kramer: Joe DiMaggio, you know this time I went in and sat down
267. across from him and I really watched him. I studied his every move. 268. For example, he dunks.

269. Elaine: Joe DiMaggio dunks his donut?

270. Kramer: That's right.

271. Jerry: See, now I know it's not him. Joe DiMaggio could not be a
272. dunker.

273. Kramer: Oh, he's a dunker.

274. Elaine: Why couldn't he be a dunker?

275. Kramer: And nothing diverts his attention. Like, I'm uh, you know,
276. like I'm sitting in there, you know. And I start banging on the
277. table, you know, to uh, look up, you know, Like I'm sitting there
278. you know and uh, *bang* (slams the table) You know, *bang* He
279. wouldn't move. So then I start doing these yelping noises. Like,
280. *yip* (high pitched yelping noises) *yip*. No reaction because
281. the guy is so focused, you see, he can just block out anything
282. that's going on around him. See, that's how he played baseball. He
283. dunks like he hits.

284. Elaine: So then what?

285. Kramer: Well, then the waitress, she comes up and she tells me to
286. shut up or they're gonna throw me out.

287. Elaine: Why didn't you just call out his name?

George enters, his pants are ripped at the knee.

288. Jerry: What happened to you?

289. George: One of those kids called me a Mary.

290. Elaine: A what?

291. George: I was jumping over a puddle and for some reason I went like
292. this.(George stretches out his arms in a ballet motion) They called
293. me a Mary. So I chased them, and I tripped and I fell.

294. Kramer: Yeah, you know kids, they can be very perceptive.

295. Elaine: Hey, George? What is this? (Elaine makes the same
296. outstretched arm motion) What is that? No really, what is that?

George heads for the bathroom, the phone rings, Kramer answers it, Jerry grabs it from him.

297. Jerry: Hello? Oh, hi Roy. What? Oh my god, how did this happen?
298. What can I do? Oh. I am so sorry. Okay. Bye. (Hangs up) That
299. was Roy. He's under investigation for insurance fraud.

300. Kramer (singing): ...just a man and not a freak, Joltin' Joe
301. DiMaggio. Joe,Joe. Go, Joe...

302. Jerry: I told you.

303. George: Told me what?

304. Jerry: I told you we shouldn't do it.

305. George: He didn't say anything.

306. Jerry: He's got a house, a family, they could take away his
307. license. You should have heard him. Three notes, how stupid was
308. that? We never should have got three notes.

309. Elaine: Three notes?

310. Jerry: Yeah, you, me and George.

311. Elaine: You got me a note?

312. Jerry: Yeah.

313. Elaine: But I got my own note.

314. Jerry: You what?

315. Elaine: I got a note from my gynecologist.

316. Jerry: Why'd you do that?

317. Elaine: I didn't know you were getting me a note.

318. Jerry: Of course I was getting you a note.

319. Elaine: But you didn't say anything.

320. Jerry: Neither did you, that's how he got caught. We sent in four 321. notes from two doctors.

322. Kramer: How can you do that to your friend? He's got a wife, kids,
323. and a lot of other stuff. Oh, yeah.

Kramer leaves.

New scene.
Jerry and George are at Roy's office.

324. Jerry: Hi Pam.

325. Pam: Hello.

326. George: Hello.

327. Jerry: I just thought maybe I could talk to Roy.

328. Roy walks in.

329. Roy: Pam, did the x-ray from Mrs. Sloan... Hi.

330. Jerry: Hi Roy.

331. George: How ya doing?

332. Roy: Come on back, I have a patient but she's under.

New scene.
Roy, Jerry and George are talking over a woman sleeping in a dental chair.

333. Jerry: I don't even know what to say.

334. George: Me neither.

335. Jerry: I knew this would happen.

336. George: Me too.

337. Jerry: I mean the whole thing, it's just...

338. George: Tragic.

339. Jerry: Well it's not tragic.

340. George: No?

341. Jerry: No, it's...

342. George: Unsettling?

343. Jerry: Okay. I mean, what if the--

Pam walks in and interrupts.

344. Pam: I hope you're both happy.

345. Jerry: I'm not happy.

346. George: Me neither. I've never been happy.

347. Jerry: I mean I'm happy sometimes, but not now.

348. George: In college, maybe. Those were fun times.

349. Jerry: Yeah, college was fun.

Pam walks in again and interjects.

350. Pam: You know the whole practice is in jeopardy, you know that?

351. Roy: Don't mind her.

352. Jerry: Oh please, I love her.

353. George: I've just met her but I'm very impressed.

354. Roy: I can't understand, I've never had a problem with these notes 355. before.

356. Jerry: What's the next move, what's gonna happen now?

357. Roy: Well, nothing really, as long as we get the physical therapist
358. to go along with our story.

359. Jerry: What? The physical therapist? Why?

360. Roy: She just has to say the complaint was related to a dental
361. problem.

The woman in the chair wakes up and looks at Jerry and George.

362. George: How ya doing?

New scene.
Jerry and George are at Julianna's office.

363. Jerry: Hi. Look, I know I don't have an appointment but it's
364. really important that I talk with Julianna.

365. Receptionist: I'm sorry, Mr. Seinfeld, she's not it.

366. Jerry: Yeah, I know she's mad at me but I really have to speak with
367. her.

368. Receptionist: I told you, she's not here.

369. Jerry: You don't understand.

370. receptionist: Look, you have to leave.

371. Jerry: Wait a second, don't you-- (Julianna walks up with her child) Hi. Hi. Look, I don't know what you--

372. Julianna: Please!

373. Jerry: --but, you see, let me just talk to you for a second, see, 373. what I did is inadvertently sent an insurance--

374. Julianna: I treated you, so please, just get out of the office!

375. Jerry: Can't you just listen to me?

376. Julianna (releasing her child): Run Billy! Run to the office and
377. close the door! (to the receptionist) Call the police!

Julianna then runs down the hall.

378. Jerry: The police?

Raymond the masseuse walks up.

379. Raymond: Hi George.

380. George: Hello.

381. Jerry (to George): Raymond?

New scene.
Elaine, Jerry and George are at the coffee shop.

382. Elaine: Well, I mean it's only six months probation, it's a slap on
383. the wrist.

384. Jerry: Yeah, I still don't see any dinner invitations forthcoming.

385. George: Men have been popping into my sexual fantasies. All of a
386. sudden, I'll be in the middle.

387. Elaine: Of what? Oh.

388. George: And a guy will appear from out of nowhere. I say "Get out
389. of here! What do you want? You don't belong here!"

390. Elaine: What do they do?

391. George: They talk back. They go, "Hey George, how's it going?" I
392. say, "Get the hell out of here!"

Jerry spots Kramer through the window.

393. Jerry: Hey, it's the K-man. (he bangs on the glass to get Kramer's
394. attention) Maybe it's time you got as different hobby.

Kramer enters and sits at the booth.

395. Kramer: I just came from Roy's. I threw up from the gas.

The three all put down their coffee cups simultaneously.

396. Jerry: Did he say anything?

397. Kramer: No no, he's fine.

397. Jerry (noticing something across the coffee shop): Oh my god,
398. it's...

George (looking over): Joe DiMaggio.

399. Kramer: Where?

400. Jerry: Having a cup of coffee.

401. Elaine: He's dunking!

402. Jerry: Wow. Look at him. The Yankee Clipper. Here.

403. George: You see? Now that is a handsome man. (Elaine and Jerry
404. look right at George) Oh please.

405. Kramer: Wait, wait. *bang* (he slams his hand down on the table) 406. *bang* (again) *yip* (another high pitched yelping sound) *yip*
407. See? I told you.

Closing monologue.

408. What causes homophobia? What is it that makes a heterosexual man
409. worry? I think it's because men know that deep down we have weak 410. sales resistance. We're constantly buying shoes that hurt us, pants 411. that don't fit right. Men think, "Obviously I can be talked into 412. anything. What if I accidentally wander into some sort of
413. homosexual store, thinking it's a shoe store, and the salesman goes,
414. 'Just hold this guy's hand, walk around the store a little bit, see
415. how you feel. No obligation, no pressure, just try it. Would you
416. like to see him in a sandal?'"

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Education

...Gordon Reynolds \ Against Education; How Public Education Cripples our Kids, and Why “Against Education: How Public Education Cripples our Kids and Why” by John Gatto talks about the education system, how students need to get a different and better education. Gatto’s argument is ineffective due to the reference that is mentioned from people from a different time period and a lot of things change. Our education system is effective how it is right now. The author discusses in his text about how our educational system needs to change into a better “education” by changing how education is providing. The author compares our educational system to the Prussian education system to draw concern to people which a use of pathos due to the controversy involved with that system. Gatto uses ethos when using well-known people’s opinions about the education system to help their case with the disagreement about the educational systems. The article mentions people who are successful that did not go to school but the thing is that the people that are mentioned are people from a long time ago which doesn’t mean anything because everything has changed “social[ly], economy [ically], financial[ly]” since that time period. Gatto uses ethos quite often to draw the readers to controversial events to get his points across more directly to get the most reactions he wants but they’re nothing backing those statements up. Gatto talks how to school turns people into bad things like addicts, he uses children’s...

Words: 825 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Education

...EDUCATION REFORMS Socio-economic changes, rapid changes in the political areas and in Science and Technology impelled the government to recognize and strengthen further the national system of education to suit the education needs of the future along the line of education for all and to produce a work force that has the quality, capability and skill to handle more complex challenges. Cabinet committee of educational reforms was chaired by Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and was formed in 1974. The purpose of forming this committee was study the implementation of the National Education policy. Educational reforms released its findings in the Mahathir Report in 1979. The report suggested that education should meet the country’s manpower needs, especially in the development of science and technology and education should foster development of noble values. Objectives of Educational Reforms The government set the objectives as guideposts along the road that make the implement of Educational Reforms more smoothly. The main objective of Educational Reforms is to improve the conditions and quality of the educational system so that the development of country in science and technology can be improved. Furthermore, Ministry of Education wished to create an updated system of education that is of universal standard so that the student can always receive the latest information. Moreover, another objective is to fix a system of education that is “flexible” to current development to avoid being...

Words: 1276 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Education

...Education and Equity Student’s Name Institution Education and Equity In the case Education and Equity: Closing the Achievement Gap, the arguments presented include the need to offer equal chance for all students, despite of color and class, the apparent education achievement gap and possible solutions to closing the gap. Arguments A, B and C note that there is an apparent achievement gap in education. The gap is more noticeable in learners from multipart urban settings, where there are many minority inhabitants. The current education requirements, of ensuring students pass benchmark tests; fail to promote equity because they do not put into deliberation the desires of students that are not academically inclined. However, it appears that learners termed as not academically inclined are students of color; hence, the need to set a standard curriculum, which is both thorough and culturally relevant as suggested by speaker A (Case). Speaker A provides a better argument when compared to B and C. The speaker begins by noting that instructing students on how to excel in benchmark tests fails to prepare their participation in a global economy. The speaker also notes the lack of equity especially for students of color termed as not academically inclined. In conclusion, A provides a solution to closing the achievement gap by setting a rigorous and applicable curriculum. Though speaker B provides a solution, which involves setting the standard, the arguments do not seems to realize...

Words: 608 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Education

...CHAPTER 1 THE PROBLEM AND LITERATURE REVIEW 1.1 Background of the Study The current era places big emphasis on the role of instructional supervision in the development of the education and improvement of student learning outcomes. It’s not the sole responsibility of the teachers to bear the tasks of delivering basic education services to the clienteles but rather a two-way process between them and the instructional leaders. As Ekyaw (2004) states it, it’s an interactive process that depends on the source supervisor and the teacher. Instructional Supervision (IS) is the phase of school administration which focusesprimarily upon the achievement of the appropriate expectations of educational system (Peretomode, 2004). Zepeda (2012) added that supervision fosters the internal and external motivation that leads to teachers’ professional growth. One recent definition is given by Glickman, Gordon & Ross-Gordon (2013) where they reiterate that instructional supervision is an assistance for the improvement of instruction and should be viewed as a function of process. Further, Marzano, Frontier &Livingston (2011) noted that the purpose of IS should be the enhancement of teachers’ pedagogical skills, with the ultimate goal of enhancing student achievement. In the Philippines, various reforms and educational movements have decentralized the context of educational management. It gives much emphasis on school empowerment and instructional supervision. Likewise, RA 9155 stressed...

Words: 2518 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Education

...Brooke Boyle Professor Kilgore English 10803 22 September 2013 Education: Expectations through Technology Changes Have you ever stopped to think about how our environment shapes a certain expectation? The world is constantly changing around us with new technologies and ideas. The differences in education have dramatically changed from my generation to a generation 10-20 years ago regarding how teachers teach and in the ways we decide to learn. The biggest factor in this dramatic change in education is the new technology that we decide to incorporate in schools. After talking to Sarah Liles, a Writing Specialist from the Athletic Academic Services Office, the contrast on technology from her generation to mine is so much more evident. Figure 1: Sarah Liles, Writng Specialist Figure 1: Sarah Liles, Writng Specialist Sarah Liles says, “Education was more difficult in my generation because fewer resources were available,” while the computer was invented, the Internet wasn’t. This caused her to have to delve deeper into hardcover books and not be able to “Google” things with one click of a button. The extent of technology used in the classroom in her generation was the projector that they would take notes from. Sarah’s greatest resource as she put it was books. A point Sarah brings up is, “Because of the greater influence of books, then I was personally more self-driven where now people read a lot less and depend more on others to lecture them.” In contrast, though...

Words: 943 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Education

...0643873 A Rightful Owner of Our Education I Believe the overall argument the author is trying to get across is that many women just expect their teacher and faculty to take them seriously and treat them as they would anyone else, but that we must prove to them we are serious about our education and we are serious about ourselves as responsible, determined students. The three points the author was trying to guide us to is first, that we must take responsibility to ourselves as students, second we must engage and fully participate in the classroom and with our professors, and lastly that we as woman, must demand to be taken seriously so that we can go on taking ourselves seriously. I agree with most of the authors argument made, that we as students must take responsibility for ourselves. Taking responsibility for ourselves is essential for us to succeed. Adrienne Rich stated “Responsibility to yourself means that you don’t fall for shallow and easy solutions—predigested books and ideas, weekends encounters gaureneed to change your life, taking “gut” courses instead of the ones you know will challenge you.” I agree with his statement 100 percent, the courses that challenge you are the courses you will learn the most from. It’s okay if you fail, you just can’t give up and you have to push yourself to work harder. I also agree with the author that we must as students engage with her teachers in an active and ongoing struggle for a real education. I briefly stated that I agree...

Words: 413 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Education

...Education The purpose of this title is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging State academic achievement standards and state academic assessments. There is growing consensus that the educational system in America is falling short when it comes to preparing our children for the future. As to the method for improving our current system today, the general focus centers upon increased accountability and a need for higher academic standards. Closing and achievement gap between high- and low-performing children, especially the achievement gaps between minority and nonminority students, between disadvantaged children and their more advantaged peers. Improving and strengthening accountability, teaching, and learning by using State assessment systems designed to ensure that students are meeting challenging State academic achievement and content standards and increasing achievement overall, but especially for the disadvantaged Meeting the educational needs of low-achieving children in our Nation's highest-poverty schools, limited English proficient children, migratory children, children with disabilities, Indian children, neglected or delinquent children, and young children in need of reading assistance. Ensuring that high-quality academic assessments, accountability systems, teacher preparation and training, curriculum, and instructional materials are aligned...

Words: 637 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Education

...Achieving Our Potential The majority of individuals recognize that education allows us to analyze, understand and appreciate our environment while giving us the life skills to survive in this globalized world. According to Merriam’s Dictionary, the definition of education is “any act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind, character, or physical ability of an individual.” Although most people have similar ideas as to what education is to them, I learned that not everyone’s opinion is comparable. As a student changes over from middle school to high school, they are given more of a voice because they are able to choose classes, although it is only a select amount. Allowing high school students to select a class gives them the opportunity to explore and learn a different subject. Also, students begin to discover their hidden talents. Tied together, required core classes and the classes students may choose from, help expand their prospect. Also, classes join into each other and benefit one another, sparking student interests and understanding of the classes themselves. I wondered what a high school student’s outlook on education would be and senior, Esther Herrera, gave me her opinion. “I am 17 and I think education is extremely important. I will admit that I do not always find school the most fascinating way to spend my time, but it is necessary.” The students begin to define themselves by the subjects and areas they are most interested in and their desire to expand...

Words: 1809 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Education

...Education is culture, and different educations show different societies’ culture. Americans regard education as the means by which the inequalities among individuals are to be erased and by which every desirable end is to be achieved. While Chinese education is for foundation education, but students may be not learn much. But all in all, different education systems account for the different phenomenon, because different society backgrounds and different culture helps human create a different country in the world. The different society structure plays an important part in the education system. In China, all those who can enter the University have received an elite education and before enrollment they have devoted themselves to hard studying. Therefore, they are good at getting high marks on mathematics, psychics and so on. However, they are lack of chances to practice skills in real world thus having no social experiences. In that case, after graduation, most students find it difficult to find a satisfactory job though many of them get a job through the relationship net. While in America, the education system pays more attention to social skills than to marks .Students have developed the ability to be independence in life and work. After university, they show great capability of thinking, innovation and creation which make them keep pace with the modern world. They are competent for the challenging work and can gain a good job in America with ease. There is a huge gap...

Words: 973 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Education

...Technological Advancement In Education Education Essay Contents Introduction – Thesis statement: Advances in the technology are very helpful in transforming the way people are educated. From the abacus which made teaching math easy millennia back, to word processor which changed the way research paper are being written and presented. The technological progress of humans has a positive impact on education. Technological change has given shape to education from the very beginning, but with the addition of digital revolution it has popularly increased the speed at which education is transforming. From the past 20 years, there have been changes in technological education that few people ever dreamed. . Many colleges and universities have started offering distance learning programs before the discovery of internet where these programs were difficult to find at that time. Due to this reason, many people who lived in villages and towns lack access to these universities and colleges. There is no doubt that technology has greatly involved in our daily lives and mainly when we are talking about education field. There is almost no escaping from the fact which is produced by the researchers. Education has been widely affected by the integration of technologies as it is a fast way to reach mass number of students. Literature Review – There are basically three main theoretical frameworks presented in the educational technology literature which are Behaviorism, Constructivism and Cognitivism...

Words: 1990 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Education

...that the education you are receiving is positive or negative?” First of all, a school system education is easier to determine whether it is positive or negative. How good or bad a school is, is usually decided by two things; history and word of mouth. If the school has good records of alumni, then the next generations of the school are hoped to be as good and if the school has bad records of students, then the other generations of the school are believed to be as bad, even though not everyone is the same way as others. Word of mouth is quite similar. If more than one group of people talk about how good the school is or how bad the school is, a lot of other people will most likely trust the different sources of the same opinion. Another thing that would go into consideration are how the school represents itself and how the teachers teach. A good building of a school means that it consists of good materials to study with and professional teachers mean that the students are learning decently. Therefore, good schools mean good education. For example, I go to school in SPH. Learning materials are provided perfectly in SPH and all the teachers, students, and staffs are supportive in a way that I cannot explain in words. I am a better person every day since I came to the school. The teachers guide me and I don’t see any tension among the students. SPH also brings me to do good things, such as service outside of school to respect others. Apart from that, I think education is also...

Words: 549 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Education

...Introduction: Entering the education field has been a very motivated decision for me. This particular decision is completely based on the former experience I had had all the way to the moment I decided I will connect my future with it. Nowadays, when parents are very busy the workers of the educational field are the people, who teach the young generation what is beautiful and what is ugly, what is right and what is wrong and million other things. Every person some day used to be an ordinary pupil that had teachers. The schooling experience of every person may develop either positive or negative attitude towards education in general. It is a fact of common knowledge that one of the most important parts in the educational process is the teacher. Choosing the education field has to be connected with a “calling” of a person, because it requires a lot of professional and personal qualities and constant self-perfection. My personal experience in school taught me that a teacher could really make a difference in the process of education. A teacher may develop respect to the subject, to the teacher’s personality and to the education in general. A pupil may even see the difference in the manner of explaining and presenting the material teaching the same subject. I discovered this difference when I had a substitute teacher coming to class and making my most hated subject one of the most interesting in the whole school program. I decided that I do want to make children love teaching and...

Words: 517 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Education

...Education is as important as the air we breathe. It is the most important possession a person must have. Education is beneficial in many aspect of life especially, personal and social it is the only possession that cannot be taken away from you. Education is important because it will open up the windows of opportunities. In this competitive world having a good education is as important as the air we breathe because it is our weapon to conquer the world.  Education will help you grow as an individual because the more knowledge you have the better understanding you will have in any given problem that will come your way. It will give you self satisfaction and will boost your self confidence. As an individual I know it will help me in a lot of aspects in my life. It will give me a financial stability because I will be able to land a good job and a high paying salary. I will learn how to spend my money and will learn how to invest it wisely. The more education I have the more respect and acknowledgement I will get from people. Knowledge is really important that is why we need to take it seriously. It is the strong weapon you can have to conquer this complex world. If you have a good education nobody can fool you and you will not tolerate any mistreatment from people. It will give you a better views in life if you are well educated.  In the social aspect of my life education will give me a better understanding on how to communicate to people effectively. I will understand what is...

Words: 442 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Education

..."Education makes people easy to lead but difficult to drive, easy to govern but impossible to enslave" Discuss This is a statement based on the values of education but it refers to one aspect of education, namely, the citizenship value. Education has of course many aims like earning bread and butter, shelter . clothing and a good life. The last concerns man as a member of a society. Except in a dictatorial society, the ordinary citizen is, theoretically at least, equal to every other citizen and enjoys equal rights. This equality enjoins equality of justice and equality of opportunity. No position in the public life can be said to be far from his reach because of his birth or creed provided of course he deserves it by education and qualification. In every enlightened modem government, emphasis is laid on the education of its citizens. Up to a certain age education is made compulsory so that boys and girls get the benefit of it. They get enlightened and they are willing to obey and, given the chance, are ready to rule. Since almost every government in the world is governed by the representatives of the people, these representatives must be educated enough to shoulder the responsibility that falls on them. That is why one British Minister said, `Let us educate our masters' meaning that the people who vote their representatives for the highest legislative body of the country must be educated. Education helps them realize their responsibilities while they appreciate their rights...

Words: 877 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Education

...Education in South Carolina Education in South Carolina public schools has always been a proverbial thorn in the side of the pride of the state. Consistently, the state has ranked near the bottom of rankings in average Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores, low salaries for teachers, and curriculums that were at best below satisfactory. The primary reason for such dismal statistics is the lack of funding available to improve educational resources within the state. Furthermore, the inequities between public schools located in more affluent areas and those in poorer school districts created a statewide need for funding to give every child within South Carolina an equal opportunity to obtain a useful education. Several legislative initiatives spurred on by a report from Moody’s, securities from located in Manhattan, attempted these financial imbalances among the various school districts. The findings of the report led to the implementation of The Education Finance Act of 1977 (EFA) by Governor James B. Edwards. Basically, this law required state funds to be divvied out in larger portions to regions that suffered from low income resources. In addition to more funding for education, EFA created programs that improved the proficiency of teachers and required students to pass a basic skills exam before being able to progress and be promoted to the next grade level. Moreover, high school seniors were required to pass an exit exam to receive their high school diplomas. After...

Words: 337 - Pages: 2