Second Language Pragmatics : From Theory to Research

Initially, the methods involved in the study of L2 pragmatics emerged from the combination of questions prompted by theories and studies of second language acquisition (SLA) in the context of L1 pragmatics research. In this book, we have described how current L2 pragmatics research is expanding from its initial base, and drawing from a wider range of sources, ranging from education to psychology to computational, and cognitive. Concomitantly, elicitation methods and practices developed within L2 pragmatics research are now also helpfully filtering through to other areas, enriching general SLA research and beginning to inform theory construction. Second Language Pragmatics: From Theory to Research aims to reinvigorate this field, pointing the way forward to new methodologies that can drive, or be driven by, new theoretical developments. With a unique combination of leading international expertise in general pragmatics, L2 pragmatics, and research methodology, the authors describe in detail the methods, including the most recent techniques, by which pragmatics of all types can be pursued in L2 contexts. This volume argues that L2 pragmatics research needs to expand from its initial base by drawing from a wider range of sources, such as Corpus Linguistics and Psycholinguistics. Clear, accessible, and practical, Second Language Pragmatics will be valuable to novice and seasoned researchers alike in second language pragmatics, general pragmatics, and second language acquisition courses.