Pragmatic refers to an attitude that emphasizes practicality, realism and logical thinking. People who are pragmatic think and act in a way that considers the actual circumstances and available resources. They are goal-oriented and make decisions based on what will produce the best results. While pragmatism is generally regarded as a positive trait, some individuals struggle with it. Those who struggle to be pragmatic can improve their ability by practicing self-control and increasing their confidence.
The philosophy of pragmatism is often associated with the work of the philosopher Charles S. Peirce. Peirce believed that a concept is only interpreted correctly if it is considered in the light of its effects and practical references. He also believed that humans are fallible and that truth or belief is determined by experience.
Philosophers today use the term pragmatism to describe an approach that is based on practicality, realism and logical thought. It is a philosophy that rejects theories and ideas that do not lead to practical results or are merely philosophical in nature. Pragmatism is an approach that has been used in the fields of business, psychology and education.
A person can learn to be more pragmatic by learning to focus on the facts and by avoiding assumptions. He or she can also learn to avoid judging situations or behaviors based on subjective feelings. A pragmatist can be more effective in professional life by being willing to deviate from predetermined processes and solve problems on their own. This type of individual is likely to take on challenges that would not otherwise be accepted by others.
English language teachers can help their students become more pragmatic by building lessons on pragmatics into existing class content. For example, a teacher could create a lesson on greetings that takes into account different cultures. She or he might include a discussion of taboo questions to ask when meeting someone new, such as whether it is appropriate to introduce oneself by first name.
Lessons on pragmatics can also be related to specific language functions such as requests, complaints, invitations and apologies. For example, a teacher could provide an activity where students discuss how they might make a request depending on their age and the context in which they are speaking. The classroom is a safe environment for students to experiment with their communicative approaches, and this allows them to acquire pragmatic competence.
It is important for language learners to understand that pragmatics is not synonymous with semantics. Semantics deals with the meaning of a word or an expression, whereas pragmatics deals with how that word is used in real-world situations. For example, the semantic meaning of a description may be that the object designated by the word is real, but pragmatics may also include other aspects, such as what the speaker’s intent was in saying the description.
One of the most important issues in pragmatics is the distinction between the intentional and non-intentional uses of a word. This is sometimes referred to as the Gricean Maxims and was articulated by Paul Grice in the 1970s.