Deliberate misinterpretation from the perspective of socio-cognitive pragmatics

Abstract

Abstract The present study explores the realizing mechanisms of deliberate misinterpretation, by examining the specific situations of deliberate misinterpretation in fictional conversation, from the perspective of socio-cognitive pragmatics, so as to shed light on human daily conversations. The results of analyzing dialogs in the sitcom Friends show that deliberate misinterpretation has to do with the possibility of ambiguity on the speaker’s side and deliberate divergence on the hearer’s side. It is also argued that in these circumstances egocentrism on the hearer’s side is manifested consciously and deliberately. Unlike generally discussed, the deliberate breakdown of communication usually has a positive influence on the communication, and certain communicative goals of the speaker may thus be fulfilled.