Pragmatics is the branch of study of language and communication that focuses on the ways in which speakers use words to convey meaning. It is a broad and interdisciplinary field, and it is closely related to the theories of semantics and linguistic theory. It combines theories, concepts, and research methods from a variety of disciplines including psychology, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, and cultural studies. The study of pragmatics encompasses a wide range of topics, from the role of context in communication to the relationship between speech act and its goal.
In a more general sense, the term pragmatic is used to refer to a person or thing that is practical and reasonable, as opposed to someone who is idealistic. Pragmatic people often see different options or courses of action, and they often compromise to find the best possible outcome. The word pragmatic is also used to describe a person’s approach to life, and it is often used in the context of discussing political positions. For example, you might hear that a politician is pragmatic in their beliefs and approaches to politics by stating that they take arguments from both sides into consideration.
The philosophy of pragmatism, which is based on the ideas of Charles Sanders Peirce and William James, emerged in the United States in the 1870s. It is considered a third alternative to the analytic and continental philosophical traditions.
A key idea in pragmatism is that truth is not necessarily objective but rather depends on how an individual interprets the truth. This view is often called the pragmatic principle or maxim, which argues that the truth does not exist independently of how an individual views it. It is important for pragmatics to include this notion of the subjective and objective in order to be able to describe how individuals might view truth in different ways, depending on their own cultures and experiences.
Unlike the study of semantics, which focuses on the relation between words and their objects, the study of pragmatics is more concerned with the relations between speakers, their utterances, and the context in which they occur. This is why many scholars consider the two to be distinct fields. Morris, for example, argues that pragmatics deals with the ‘biotic aspects of semiosis’, while semantics focuses on the ‘deadly aspects’ of it.
One of the most significant contributions that pragmatics has made to discourse analysis is its focus on near-side phenomena such as ambiguity, vagueness, and reference, as well as lexical and semantic factors. These features are often neglected in semantics, but they are a vital component of what makes human communication meaningful.
It is also important to note that pragmatics is a highly interdisciplinary field and draws influences from other disciplines, such as anthropology, philosophy, sociology, psychology, and linguistics. This cross-pollination is a testament to the complexity and diversity of human language. For instance, the knowledge of pragmatic rules that are specific to a particular culture is essential for intercultural communication and understanding.