Pragmatics is the study of how people interpret and use language to communicate. The word pragmatic comes from the Greek root pragma, meaning “to act.” Pragmatics focuses on the real-world context in which communication takes place, rather than on a set of abstract rules or principles. In a practical sense, pragmatism refers to a person’s ability to make decisions that yield the most useful results. For example, someone who is pragmatic would be willing to compromise their ideals when it makes sense to do so. The opposite of pragmatic is idealistic, which describes a person who is unable to see the value in compromise.
The ability to understand and apply pragmatic rules is essential for cross-cultural communication. For example, the directness valued in some Western cultures can be seen as abrasive in many Asian cultures where subtlety and indirectness are prized. Mastery of the pragmatic rules specific to each culture is also necessary for fostering global understanding and promoting international peace.
Individuals with autism spectrum disorders may find it more challenging to develop pragmatic language skills due to the difficulty they often have with interpreting social cues. These individuals can be taught the underlying rules and strategies that govern pragmatic language use, and with practice they can improve their abilities to participate in more complex social interactions. However, teaching and practicing these behaviors can be challenging for their parents and teachers, who must be sensitive to the challenges that their students face and tailor instruction to the students’ needs.
The philosophy of pragmatism is an increasingly popular alternative to the analytic and continental philosophical traditions. Pragmatism owes its foundation to Charles Sanders Peirce, who developed the ideas that form the core of pragmatism, and his Harvard student William James, who refined and elaborated upon them. Several other philosophers, including Joseph Margolis, Richard Goodman, and Hilary Putnam, have contributed to the development of a contemporary pragmatism.
Philosophical pragmatists have developed a variety of perspectives on language, knowledge, and action. A common feature is that they are skeptical of claims to absolute truth or certainty. In contrast to the traditional analytic philosophy, they emphasize the importance of context and the elaboration of pragmatic rules for determining what is true or meaningful in a given situation.
Experimental research in pragmatics is often based on a series of experiments that present stimuli to participants and measure how they respond. Researchers typically calculate averages of people’s behavioral performances under each experimental condition to capture important general trends, but there is substantial within-person variation that affects pragmatic performance. Studies that explore this variability are important for identifying the factors that influence pragmatic abilities.
In addition to experimental pragmatics, other approaches to the discipline include theoretical, historical, and philosophical investigations of pragmatism. These include investigations of the history of pragmatism, its relation to other philosophical traditions, and its implications for science and social policy. The journal also publishes invited reviews that provide a detailed, critical summary of current research on a particular topic or area of pragmatics.