Meaning in Interaction: An Introduction to Pragmatics is a comprehensive introductory text which discusses the development of pragmatics - its aims and methodology - and also introduces themes that are not generally covered in other texts. Jenny Thomas focuses on the dynamic nature of speaker meaning, considering the central roles of both speaker and hearer, and takes into account the social and psychological factors involved in the generation and interpretation of utterances. The book includes a detailed examination of the development of Pragmatics as a discipline, drawing attention to problems encountered in earlier work, and brings the reader up to date with recent discussion in the field. The book is written principally for students with no previous knowledge of pragmatics, and the basic concepts are covered in considerable detail. Theoretical and more complicated information is highlighted with examples that have been drawn from the media, fiction and real-life interaction, and makes the study more accessible to newcomers. It is an ideal introductory textbook for students of linguistics and for all who are interested in analysing problems in communication.

Those aspects of language use that are crucial to an understanding of language as a system, and especially to an understanding of meaning, are the acknowledged concern of linguistic pragmatics. This textbook provides a lucid and integrative analysis of the central topics in pragmatics - deixis, implicature, presupposition, speech acts, and conversational structure. A central concern of the book is the relation between pragmatics and semantics, and Dr Levinson shows clearly how a pragmatic approach can resolve some of the problems semantics have been confronting and simplifying semantic analyses. The exposition is always clear and supported by helpful exemplification. The detailed analyses of selected topics give the student a clear view of the empirical rigour demanded by the study of linguistic pragmatics, but Dr Levinson never loses sight of the rich diversity of the subject. An introduction and conclusion relate pragmatics to other fields in linguistics and other disciplines concerned with language usage - psychology, philosophy, anthropology and literature.

An introduction to the linguistic study of meaning, this book outlines the meaning potential (semantics) of English and how language knowledge is put to use (pragmatics).

Pragmatics – the study of language in context, and of how we understand what other people say – is a core subject in English language, linguistics, and communication studies. This textbook introduces the key topics in this fast-moving field, including metaphor, irony, politeness, disambiguation, and reference assignment. It walks the reader through the essential theories in pragmatics, including Grice, relevance theory, speech act theory, and politeness theory. Each chapter includes a range of illustrative examples, guiding readers from the basic principles to a thorough understanding of the topics. A dedicated chapter examines how research is conducted in pragmatics, providing students with resources and ideas for developing their own projects. Featuring exercises, a comprehensive glossary, and suggestions for further reading, this book is accessible to beginner undergraduates, including those with no prior knowledge of linguistics. It is an essential resource for courses in English language, English studies, and linguistics.

An Introduction to Pragmatics is designed for use in introductory courses in pragmatics (both undergraduate and graduate level) for students preparing to teach. By including the perspective of ESL and EFL educators, this book provides prospective teachers with an understanding of pragmatics that will help them: integrate the teaching of pragmatic competence in language programs and materials understand the problems learners have with comprehension of messages requiring cognitive processing beyond that of the spoken or written word evaluate textbooks and materials as well as assessment procedures for language proficiency assess the value of communicative language teaching practices assist learners in developing strategies to handle misunderstandings and other communication problems expand knowledge of how language is used in the world by people in everyday situations, including classrooms

This book covers major topics in the Anglo-American tradition, including deixis, presupposition, implicature, speech acts, and (im)politeness. These key topics are illustrated with examples and case studies from various contexts such as romantic relationships, online forums, social media posts, and popular culture. The book also includes a methods chapter that offers a hands-on guide for literature search, data collection, and data analysis. This book is particularly suitable for readers who have no prior knowledge of pragmatics.

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the ways in which meaning is conveyed in language. It covers topics normally considered to fall under pragmatics, as well as semantic matters. The author seeks, above all, to display and to explain the richness and subtlety of meaning, and tothat end provides abundant exemplification throughout the text. Numerous exercises (and suggested answers) are provided at every stage. The book is not bound to any particular theory, but provides explanations of theoretical approaches and perspectives as the context requires. The author stresses the need for conceptual clarity in all analyses of meaning. Meaning in Language is readable and vigorous, written with style and wit. It will be widely welcomed by students in linguistics, philosophy, and literature.