Pragmatics in Action: A Case-Based Approach to Language Use and Interpretation (revised and annotated edition)

Pragmatics, as a branch of linguistics, has established itself as an essential discipline for understanding how language functions beyond its formal structure. Whereas syntax and semantics focus on the rules governing sentence formation and literal meaning respectively, pragmatics delves into how language is used in context to perform communicative acts, convey intentions, and interpret meanings that go beyond the literal. It investigates the dynamic, interactive, and context-sensitive nature of human communication, illuminating the nuances of meaning-making that arise in real-life discourse. This chapter provides a thorough exploration of the nature and scope of pragmatics, discussing its foundational concepts, its relationship with semantics, and the distinction between micropragmatics and macropragmatics, while situating these debates within contemporary linguistic theory.