THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAGMATICS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING AND COMMUNICATION

Abstract

This article explores the importance of pragmatics in English language teaching and communication, emphasizing how meaning in interaction depends not only on grammar and vocabulary but also on context, intention, and social norms. Pragmatics studies how people use language appropriately in real-life situations — understanding indirect requests, politeness, irony, or implied meaning.
In English language teaching (ELT), pragmatic competence is crucial for effective communication. Learners may know grammatical structures but still fail to convey the right message if unaware of pragmatic rules. For instance, saying “Close the window” versus “Could you close the window, please?” reflects different levels of politeness. This paper analyzes the role of pragmatics in developing communicative competence, reviews major theoretical frameworks, and discusses classroom strategies for teaching pragmatic awareness. The study concludes that incorporating pragmatic instruction in ELT fosters cultural understanding, social appropriateness, and genuine communicative fluency among English learners