Pragmatic is the study of how people use language. It is a subfield of linguistics, but it also incorporates concepts from other fields such as psychology and philosophy. Essentially, pragmatics looks at the real-world application of ideas and solutions. It is the opposite of idealistic, which tends to focus on the ideal form or idea of something rather than its practical application in the world.
When you say someone is pragmatic, you are describing their ability to adapt and make good decisions in situations. For example, if you are out with friends and they all decide to split the bill at the end of the night, a pragmatic person would be willing to pay their fair share even if that meant they wouldn’t get as many beers as some of the others.
A pragmatic philosopher, on the other hand, might not be so quick to believe that people are always acting in their best interests. Instead, he or she might argue that the best way to measure whether an action is ethical or not is by considering its consequences.
Similarly, a pragmatic student is one who understands that the most effective approach to studying language is through its use in real-world situations. This makes pragmatics relevant to a broad range of topics and disciplines, from sociolinguistics and intercultural communication to computational linguistics and lexicology.
The term “pragmatic” derives from the Greek word pragma, meaning “deed.” Pragmatists are concerned with actions and their consequences and not with abstract notions. Thus, they are often described as being more realistic and grounded than other types of philosophers or politicians. The four-year-old who wants a unicorn for her birthday isn’t being very pragmatic, but the one who insists on a sensible solution that will work in reality is.
Pragmatics is closely related to semantics, which focuses on the actual objects or ideas that words refer to, and syntax, which examines relationships between signs (or symbols). But pragmatics also involves an understanding of how the context of a situation affects what an utterance means.
Different pragmatic theorists have emphasized different properties of utterances. Some, like Grice, have tended to emphasize the idea of communicative intention; others see it as more of a logical project; and still others view it as an empirical psychological theory of how meanings are derived from speech acts.
Teachers who teach English as a second language can incorporate lessons on pragmatics into their regular lesson plans. They might also plan special activities to give students an opportunity to practice their pragmatic skills in a variety of situations. For example, a teacher could encourage students to use appropriate greetings in different contexts by role-playing scenarios with different speakers and locations. This would allow students to practice addressing a variety of pragmatic issues, including how to greet an unfamiliar person, asking permission to use the bathroom, and making and responding to requests.