Pragmatic theory is a philosophical approach that focuses on the practical aspects of language use. It is concerned with the ways in which language is used in real-life situations, and how people use language to achieve various goals. Pragmatic theory is different from other linguistic theories, such as structuralism and generative grammar, in that it does not focus on the internal structure of language or on the rules of language production and comprehension.
What is Pragmatics?
Pragmatics is the study of how language is used in context. It is concerned with the ways in which people use language to achieve various goals, such as to convey information, to express emotions, to persuade others, or to establish social relationships. Pragmatics is a subfield of linguistics that focuses on the social and cultural aspects of language use.
The Key Concepts of Pragmatics
The key concepts of pragmatics include speech acts, implicature, presupposition, deixis, and politeness. Speech acts refer to the ways in which people use language to perform various actions, such as making requests, giving orders, making promises, or expressing thanks. Implicature refers to the meanings that are conveyed indirectly, through context or inference. Presupposition refers to the assumptions that are made by the speaker and the listener about what is already known or assumed. Deixis refers to the ways in which language is used to point to things in the surrounding context. Politeness refers to the strategies that people use to show respect and deference to others.
The Importance of Pragmatics
Pragmatics is important because it helps us to understand how language is used in real-life situations. It enables us to interpret the meanings that are conveyed indirectly, through context or inference, and to understand the assumptions that underlie communication. Pragmatics also helps us to understand the social and cultural aspects of language use, and to appreciate the ways in which language reflects and shapes our social relationships and identities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, pragmatic theory is a philosophical approach that focuses on the practical aspects of language use. It is concerned with the ways in which language is used in real-life situations, and how people use language to achieve various goals. Pragmatics is a subfield of linguistics that focuses on the social and cultural aspects of language use, and the key concepts of pragmatics include speech acts, implicature, presupposition, deixis, and politeness. Pragmatics is important because it helps us to understand how language is used in real-life situations and to appreciate the ways in which language reflects and shapes our social relationships and identities.