How does pragmatics contribute to the study of language?

Philosophy Pragmatics Questions



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How does pragmatics contribute to the study of language?

Pragmatics contributes to the study of language by focusing on how context, social factors, and speaker intentions influence the meaning and interpretation of linguistic expressions. It examines how language is used in real-life situations, considering factors such as the speaker's goals, the listener's expectations, and the shared knowledge between them. Pragmatics helps to explain how meaning is conveyed beyond the literal interpretation of words, and how communication is shaped by cultural norms, politeness, and context-specific conventions. It also explores phenomena such as implicature, presupposition, speech acts, and conversational implicature, providing insights into the complexities of language use and understanding.