This is an introduction to pragmatics. The book accords a central place to the roles of both speaker and hearer in the construction of meaning and takes account of both social and psychological factors in the generation and interpretation of utterances. Secondly, it covers basic concepts in detail, drawing particular attention to problems in early work in pragmatics. Finally, the book brings the reader up to date with current issues in pragmatics. The theoretical points are illustrated with examples taken from the media, fiction and real-life interactions.
