Intentionality (linguistics)

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The term intentionality is used ambiguously in linguistics. On the one hand, it is a term in text linguistics and, on the other hand, a term used in Grice and Searle's theory of meaning .

Intentionality as a criterion for textuality

The textuality criterion intentionality primarily relates to the text producer , to whom the recipient assumes that he intended to create a cohesive and coherent text . It is assumed that the text producer is pursuing a specific goal or plan, such as imparting knowledge.

However, text users generally show a great deal of tolerance when the text is not completely coherent and cohesive. Often the reader contributes a lot himself by thinking intensively, including his textual and world knowledge , and thus not grasping completely obvious connections.

However, should the producer completely disregard the basic criteria of cohesion and coherence , communication between the dialogue partners would slow down significantly or even come to a standstill, or the reader would put the book aside because he could not see any sense.

Intentionality in meaning theory

In Grice and Searle's theory of meaning, intentionality denotes the fundamental category of every linguistic act, to be guided by a concrete communicative action intention.