What does the study of pragmatics focus on in language use?

The study of pragmatics focuses on the context of social interaction in language use. Pragmatics involves understanding how context influences the interpretation of meaning beyond the literal definitions of words. This includes an exploration of how factors such as the speaker's intent, the relationship between speaker and listener, cultural norms, and situational variables impact communication. For instance, the same sentence can convey different meanings depending on the context in which it is used, such as tone of voice, body language, and the social setting.

In contrast, focusing on the literal meaning of words relates more to semantics, which studies meaning in isolation from context. The history of a language pertains to historical linguistics, examining how languages evolve over time, while grammatical structure is part of syntax, which is concerned with the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences. Understanding pragmatics is essential for effective communication, especially in multilingual and multicultural settings, as it helps navigate nuances that are not derived from words alone.