The importance of pragmatics for English language learning

Pragmatics is considered to be an important component of linguistics, much as the 

linguistics, much like the introduction of semantics ten years earlier. 

Semantics ten years earlier. Until 1985, Pragmatics had been considered as a philosophical and linguistic approach to the study of language. 

     

      Philosophical and linguistic approach to the study of language. It is from about 1985 onward that the concentration on meaning is emphatically noticed, advised or suggested to the point of promoting semantic-based syllabic (semantic-based syllabic). 

(semantic-based syllabic). In a semantic-based syllabus, but it did not reach this point because the focus in language teaching is on meanings. 

In a semantic-based course program, the focus in language teaching is on meanings rather than structures; meanings that may be related to conjunctions and notions with their corresponding structures. The goal of getting students to acquire functional 

students to acquire functional skills in the target language. 

The aim of getting learners to acquire functional skills in the target language (English) led to the main purpose of foreign language teaching becoming that the learner 

language teaching became that students should be able to understand and express themselves in the 

The main aim of foreign language teaching became that of enabling learners to understand and express themselves in the target language in an appropriate way, in accordance with 

communicative situations and the sociocultural parameters of the context. 

the sociocultural parameters of the context. Otherwise, not only would misunderstandings 

the language would not only result in misunderstandings or serious difficulties in 

communication. 

It is important to emphasize that everything that leads us to a more accurate communication when expressing ourselves in English is important.

For that reason we should not overlook anything that will help us with such communication and learning.

Cultural influence on the learning process

    Pragmatic competence involves recognizing that culture is a decisive factor in encoding and decoding messages. In other words, the cultural context plays a crucial role in the correct understanding of meaning. This awareness of the importance of culture is therefore fundamental for successful intercultural communication, thanks to the pragmatic competence of the speakers. 

pragmatic competence of the speakers, a competence that is part of the recognized 

is part of the recognized communicative competence, the development of which is the main 

is the main objective of language teaching today.

Techniques required for the development of pragmatic competences 

 1. Intonation and nonverbal language are key elements and are inextricably linked to them. Try to work on them as a whole.

2. It is important to work on them in different situations of use, it is not the same to intensify or attenuate in a job interview than in a colloquial conversation. For this reason, it should also be taken into account that they can be worked on as an objective, but also as a complement at any moment of interaction.

3. You will not always speak in a formal manner; therefore, it is possible to work on tactics that are non-normative and even agrammatical.

Examples of the importance of pragmatics 

In these examples, if they did not have the context, it would be difficult to understand what is being said.

1. You are in line at a store to pay for your groceries. The cashier asks, "How are you today?" Do you immediately analyze in depth your health problems, mood swings, relationship status and everything else going on in your life? Of course not! You usually respond with something similar to "Fine, how are you?". with the same expectation that the cashier will not go into all the details of what she is really like.

 2. A student likes philosophy very much, but chooses to study economics because he will have more chances of finding a better paying job.

3. The inhabitants of a country are starving. The government decides to deforest an area of their country to feed them. It will take years for the area to become productive again, but the temporary famine is solved.

 

Here is a video on the subject 

https://youtu.be/dsPswzOBsK0 

  

               By: Michelle Perdomo Gavante