pragmatics

Status
Not open for further replies.

Jaskin

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2007
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Polish
Home Country
Poland
Current Location
UK
Hi,
It's hard to give any broader context to that statement. How would you understand that.

" I'm glad I listened to you speaking. It helped me realise how pathetic I'd sounded years back. I'm sorry to say that but don't feel too depressed about it."
What would you make about someone making such a statement?

Cheers
 

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
It sounds like an insult.
 

Jaskin

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2007
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Polish
Home Country
Poland
Current Location
UK
Hi,

What language proficiency would be assumed to utter such a statement, hoping that it won't be understand ?

Cheers
 

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Hi,

What language proficiency would be assumed to utter such a statement, hoping that it won't be understand ?

Cheers

I don't understand your question. Why would you hope that it wouldn't be understood?
 

Jaskin

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2007
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Polish
Home Country
Poland
Current Location
UK
Hi,
Because as you said it's an insult. When I heard that I had the impression that the person who said that thinks I didn't understand. I must admit I played along.
It obviously say something about the presumption someone made about the level of my English. As for me it's hard to make some sort of self assessment on how my spoken skills might come across; so situation such as that might give me some inside.

Cheers
 

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
"Insight."

He may have meant it to be encouraging. That he knows you sound not-so-good now, but with some practice you will get better. It's hard to say. I don't think he was assuming you would not understand.
 

Jaskin

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2007
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Polish
Home Country
Poland
Current Location
UK
Hi,

Doubt it, let's for the sake of argument presume I got the situation right. What do you think would be the level at which that sentence would be no doubt understood? The "how pathetic I'd sounded years back" doesn't refer to language skills but to conviction on a certain subject matter.

Cheers
 

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Hi,

Doubt it, let's for the sake of argument presume I got the situation right. What do you think would be the level at which that sentence would be no doubt understood?

Cheers

I don't know what you mean by "level."

It's not an overly-complicated passage. "When I listen to you I am reminded how pathetic I used to sound."
 

Jaskin

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2007
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Polish
Home Country
Poland
Current Location
UK
Hi,

Level of spoken English language proficiency.

Cheers
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top