Second Language Acquisition and Pragmatics

Abstract

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides a critical review of the second language (L2) pragmatics field by evaluating the existing literature, problematizing the current state, and identifying future directions. It presents a historical background of the field in response to critical questions that have guided L2 pragmatics research thus far. The book explores theories and methods, such as usage-based approaches, corpus linguistics, systemic functional linguistics, and psycholinguistic methods. L2 pragmatics encompasses two broader disciplines—pragmatics and second language acquisition (SLA)—which are complementary in defining the objectives and substances of the field. Pragmatics serves as a goal for L2 acquisition, and SLA provides frameworks and empirical methods to examine the process and impetus of the acquisition. The interdependence between context and individuals is also seen in L2 pragmatics research.