语境理论的功能

总体而言，语境主要有两大功能：

1.制约功能

语境能有效地消除语言的歧义和模糊现象，保持词语运用中表达的明确性。例4：tap

♦Earlier this year，ominous headlines blared that Cape Town，South Africa，was headed for Day Zero—the date when the city's taps would go dry because its reservoirs would become dangerously low on water.

♦Cape Town has already begun implementing a number of wateraugmentation projects，including tapping groundwater and building water-recycling plants.

2.解释功能

在实际的语言运用中，人们的表达往往较为简略，或者说是不完整的，这就需要结合语境去理解和解释。例5：portfolio

♦In general，a“a portfolio approach”that relies on multiple water sources is probably most effective.