Overview

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.

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9781108836005

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Reviews

'Comprehensive but concise, full of complex concepts described in elegant terms, Pragmatics in English is a must-read for all students of pragmatics, and thoroughly recommended to academics in the field also.' Tim Wharton, Principal Lecturer in Linguistics, University of Brighton 'Scott has produced a masterful introduction to the major pragmatic theories from the latter half of the twentieth century. These are presented in a highly accessible way, using fresh examples that enliven the descriptions of these frameworks, and which make it clear how these theories are relevant to students today.' Anne Bezuidenhout, Professor of Philosophy & Linguistics, University of South Carolina

'Comprehensive but concise, full of complex concepts described in elegant terms, Pragmatics in English is a must-read for all students of pragmatics, and thoroughly recommended to academics in the field also.' Tim Wharton, Principal Lecturer in Linguistics, University of Brighton 'Scott has produced a masterful introduction to the major pragmatic theories from the latter half of the twentieth century. These are presented in a highly accessible way, using fresh examples that enliven the descriptions of these frameworks, and which make it clear how these theories are relevant to students today.' Anne Bezuidenhout, Professor of Philosophy & Linguistics, University of South Carolina

Author Information

Kate Scott is a Senior Lecturer and School Director of Research at Kingston University London, and has over ten years' experience of teaching English language, linguistics, and pragmatics at undergraduate and postgraduate level. She is the author of Pragmatics Online (2022) and Referring Expressions, Pragmatics, and Style (2019), and co-editor of Relevance, Pragmatics and Interpretation (2019, with Carston and Clark).

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