Introduction to Pragmatics

Blackwell Textbooks in Linguistics

by Betty J. Birner

Introduction to Pragmatics guides students through traditional and new approaches in the field, focusing particularly on phenomena at the elusive semantics/pragmatics boundary to explore the role of context in linguistic communication.

Genres: Linguistics, Nonfiction, Education

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Aaron Geiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Betty Birner has written what I would consider to be the predominant and authoritative text and primer on the field of pragmatics. Recommended for graduate students and beyond, this text offers not only an introduction to pragmatics, but a history of the progression of the field up until the recent sub genres of information structure, inferential relations, and beyond. There are many diagrams (see: predicate calculus), examples, and digressions to fully assist the reader in comprehending what can be, at times, difficult concepts to master.

[Lulu]

Language

[Brandy Cross · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is mostly a very well written book with a few caveats. It's also mostly well organized, and better than tolerance standard. Overall, very good. However, the author does go on at length on examples that do not require as much elucidation as they receive and it would be quite good to have a reference for the equations and their meanings rather than having to flip back to the page they were on - especially as it's intended for a longer-term study. Otherwise, this is very good, takes a balanced and nuanced approach, and shares a number of relevant theories and the author's belief in their merit. 4.5/5, would very much recommend.

[Felicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read it for my language & communication class at uni, so not the best person to review it I think hahaha! Must say sometimes it was a little to much in terms of examples and it made me confused, but that might also just be my neurodivergency ;)

[Jimmy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very academic book, which is not very useful for me. It's about pragmatics itself, not how to use pragmatics to help you. Anyway, it looks like a good book for those who needed it.