Pragmatic is a subfield of linguistics and the philosophy of language that studies how context contributes to meaning. It also focuses on the ways that different cultures interpret language and communication. Individuals with good pragmatic skills are able to adapt their language and behaviors to the needs of the people with whom they communicate. In contrast, individuals with poor pragmatic skills are more likely to experience misunderstandings, conflicts and strained relationships.
To better understand pragmatics, it’s helpful to look at how it differs from semantics. Semantics is the study of what words mean in a literal sense. It includes the meaning of individual grammatical components, as well as how those components fit together to form phrases and sentences. Pragmatics goes beyond this to consider the social, cultural and situational aspects of language use.
The term pragmatic was originally coined in the 1930s by philosopher Charles Morris, who described it as “the art of saying something while leaving the door open for another interpretation.” While pragmatism has broad applications, its main focus is to take into account the consequences of one’s actions for everyone involved. It is a value that is often cited by business leaders like Elon Musk, as well as political figures like Angela Merkel and Warren Buffett. Malala Yousafzai is an educational activist who demonstrates pragmatism in her advocacy work.
There are many different approaches to pragmatics, each with its own methodologies and theories. These include formal and computational; theoretical and applied; game-theoretical, clinical and experimental; intercultural, interlinguistic and even neuropragmatics. Despite these differences, all pragmatics share the notion that context is central to meaning, and that there are forces in play in utterance interpretation that are not confined to grammar or vocabulary.
Pragmatics is considered to be the sister discipline of semantics, though it takes a more holistic view of how meaning is constructed. It also explores the broader social and cultural implications of the way we use language, including how we convey stances, attitudes, beliefs and intentions. Its study of communication also includes non-linguistic elements, such as gestures and facial expressions.
While semantics investigates the meaning of individual words and their grammatical structure, pragmatics is concerned with the overall effect of an utterance on its audience. It explores the complexities of context-dependence and illocutionary force.
To support the development of pragmatics in deaf children, it’s important to teach them about different stances and attitudes. It’s also helpful to expose them to a variety of real-life situations where they can practice social interaction and appropriate language use. For example, through community outings and structured social activities. Regular communication and collaboration between parents, educators and other professionals is also essential to provide a holistic approach to supporting pragmatics. In addition, it is helpful to regularly share observations, strategies and progress. Our digital booklet, ‘Supporting the pragmatic and social communication skills of deaf children’, explores how to do this in depth. Click to download your copy now!