Pragmatics is the study of how people use language to interact with others. It looks beyond the literal meaning of words and considers the implied meanings that are based on context. Without pragmatics, it would be difficult to understand what people mean when they speak.
A pragmatist is someone who is practical and sensible in their actions and decisions. They look at the big picture and weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. They are not afraid to deviate from established procedures, if they think it will help them achieve their goals faster. They also prioritize results over theory. Pragmatists can be helpful at work, but they can also be challenging to deal with in interpersonal relationships.
People are born with some pragmatic skills, but most develop these critical social abilities during adolescence. Pragmatic skills include communication, the ability to adapt to different situations, and the ability to follow social norms when interacting with others. These skills can be important in both typical child development and supporting children with autism spectrum disorders or other conditions.
The word pragmatic is derived from two Greek words: pragma, which means “practical,” and praxis, which means “action.” Therefore, the meaning of pragmatic is “practical action.” This approach to thinking and behavior can be helpful in the workplace, where many employees must adhere to specific work processes. It can be a problem, however, when a person becomes too pragmatic and stops considering the impact of their actions on other people.
Pragmatic people are able to quickly recognize what their goals and needs are, then take steps to reach those goals. They are able to make good decisions because they keep their focus on the outcomes, rather than on the process of getting to those goals. They know how to prioritize their efforts and can move on to the next task when they finish the current one.
Pragmatists are often praised for their ability to see the bigger picture and the fact that they are able to weigh all of the options and courses of action available to them. They can be frustrating to work with, however, because they may not always communicate their thoughts and feelings clearly and may not always be able to explain their motivations for their choices.
A major framework for pragmatics is relevance theory, which was developed by Dan Sperber and Deirdre Wilson. This theory is based on Grice’s ideas about implicature and asserts that every utterance contains enough relevant information to justify its addressee’s effort in processing it. This includes the use of indexicals and demonstratives, as well as the management of reference in discourse.