Pragmatic is a term that refers to an approach to philosophy that views concepts through their practical consequences rather than through strict theoretical principles. There is no one definitive pragmatist creed and many philosophers have embraced pragmatic ideas in their own ways, but there are certain recurring themes that have loomed large in the pragmatic tradition.
Classic pragmatists have been critical of the metaphysical and moral doctrines that relegate change to the lowest level of the hierarchy of values, calling instead for a more positive view of human nature and human life, with a central focus on action. They have also emphasized the “plastic” nature of reality and emphasized the practical function of knowledge as an instrument for adapting to and controlling reality.
The word pragmatic derives from the Greek prefix pragma meaning “practical,” or “of practical concern.” Although the philosophical idea of pragmatics was first articulated in the late 1880s by Charles Sanders Peirce, it gained momentum through the work of John Dewey. He paved the way for a number of important pragmatic philosophers, including G. Herbert Mead (1863-1931), William James (1903-1990), and Alfred North Whitehead (1910-1945).
As the philosophy of pragmatism became popular, it was influenced by other disciplines. For example, anthropologists have contributed to the theory of pragmatics by studying the socially constructed rules that govern such things as turn taking, greetings, eye contact, and the way individuals are referenced in oral conversations. These rules are known as the pragmatics of oral language and they are often implicitly learned.
Sociologists have also added to the study of pragmatics by studying the cultural contexts that determine how and why people use words in particular ways. They have found that language and behavior are heavily influenced by social factors, such as the culture of the speaker and his or her relationships with other speakers. The field of pragmatics has thus become a hybrid of philosophy, sociology, and anthropology.
Semantics, syntax, and semiotics are three distinct areas of linguistic study, but pragmatics is the only one that encompasses both the literal and nonliteral aspects of language. It is also the only area of linguistic study that takes into account the social and physical contexts that influence how and why words are used in specific ways.
The pragmatists’ concept of pragmatics has been widely adopted by educators who teach English as a second language and have students from different cultures. Joseph Siegel provides useful pedagogical techniques for teaching pragmatics in the speaking classroom in an article published in the Forum, titled “Pragmatic Activities for the Speaking Classroom.” For example, he describes an activity that involves providing students with different scenarios and having them decide how to make a request. Then the teacher and students discuss their responses and explain why certain ones are more appropriate for particular situations than others. Using this sort of learning activity, students can develop greater awareness of the varying pragmatics of various cultures and become more skilled communicators.
