Pragmaticizing Understanding

Studies for Jef Verschueren

Editors

Michael Meeuwis | Ghent University

Jan-Ola Östman | University of Helsinki

Hardbound – Available

ISBN 9789027211910 | EUR 99.00 | USD 149.00

Paperback – Available

ISBN 9789027211927 | EUR 33.00 | USD 49.95

e-Book –

ISBN 9789027274830 | EUR 99.00/33.00*
| USD 149.00/49.95*

The ideas that mark modern-day pragmatics are old, but did not start to get more systematically developed until the 1960s and 1970s. Still, the very recognition of pragmatics as a self-standing academic discipline is a product of the 1980s, not least made possible by the establishment of the International Pragmatics Association. One scholar in particular has devoted his life both to IPrA and to the discipline.

This volume pays homage to Jef Verschueren on the occasion of his 60th birthday. It celebrates him for his long-standing dedication as Secretary General of IPrA and for his scholarly contributions to the field. We owe to Jef Verschueren the insight that the processes through which language users (do or do not) achieve understanding among each other in communication can only be fully comprehended if approached from a pragmatic perspective, i.e. if understanding is pragmaticized.

The chapters in this book are written by scholars who, like Jef Verschueren, have played a key role in the genesis and development of the field, and who still actively contribute to its advancement today. Each author looks back, evaluates the present, and takes on new challenges.

[Not in series, 170] 2012. vi, 230 pp.

Publishing status: Available

https://doi.org/10.1075/z.170

Table of Contents

On how to pragmaticize understanding

Michael Meeuwis and Jan-Ola Östman | pp. 1–14

Does the autonomy of linguistics rest on the autonomy of syntax? An alternative framing of our object of study

Michael Silverstein | pp. 15–38

Classifying illocutionary acts, or, a tale of Theory and Praxis

Marina Sbisà | pp. 39–52

Spatial indexicalities and spatial pragmatics

Peter Auer | pp. 53–76

Pragmatics as a facilitator for child syntax development

Susan M. Ervin-Tripp | pp. 77–100

Pragmatics, linguistic competence, and Conversation Analysis

Charles Antaki | pp. 101–112

Pragmatics and dialogue phenomena: Are they essentially connected?

Yorick Wilks | pp. 113–120

Roots of the wakimae aspect of linguistic politeness: Modal expressions and Japanese sense of self

Sachiko Ide | pp. 121–138

“Laura! Laura! Wake up”: The politics and pragmatics of intertextuality and appropriation

Robin T. Lakoff | pp. 139–150

Knowledge, discourse and domination

Teun A. van Dijk | pp. 151–196

The public face of language: Why spelling matters

Jenny Cook-Gumperz and John J. Gumperz | pp. 197–212

The compleat angle on pragmatics: A personal note

Jacob L. Mey | pp. 213–218

Tabula Gratulatoria | pp. 219–228

Index | pp. 229–230

“ Pragmaticizing Understanding is a fine piece of work [...]. The individual chapters and the volume as a whole present illuminating insights into the pragmatics of understanding — from both theoretical and language-use based perspectives. [...] Pragmaticizing Understanding is an excellent piece of work which not only practices what it preaches but also preaches what it practices.”

Anita Fetzer, University of Augsburg, in Functions of Language, Vol. 20:2 (2013)

“The researchers and scholars who must be regarded as its primary audience will certainly enjoy this celebration of a field that has come of age in the 60 years of Jef Verschueren’s lifetime.”

Janet Holmes, Victoria University of Wellington, in Discourse Studies Vol.16:1 (2014). Pgs. 107-109

“Considering the wide range of topics covered and the thought-provoking approaches adopted, the volume is a must-read for advanced-level linguistics majors and scholars interested in pragmatic research. For lay readers curious about language issues, some of the chapters in the second half may be less demanding and arguably more accessible.”

Xiao-Li Zhou, Shanxi University, China and Ya-Xin Wu, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, China, in Pragmatics and Society Vol. 6:2 (2015)

Cited by

Cited by 3 other publications

Black, Steven P.

2013. Linguistic Anthropology in 2012: Language Matter(s). American Anthropologist 115:2 ► pp. 273 ff.

Hirschová, Milada & Jindřiška Svobodová

2015. Verbal Aggression in Political Discourse. Bohemica Olomucensia 7:3-4 ► pp. 79 ff.

[no author supplied]

2013. Publications Received. Language in Society 42:1 ► pp. 113 ff.

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 15 november 2023. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.

Presentation

Book presentation for Jef Verschueren

On the occasion of his 60th birthday, the editors Michael Meeuwis and Jan-Ola Östman presented Jef Verschueren with the book Pragmaticizing Understanding: Studies for Jef Verschueren . This volume celebrates him for his long-standing dedication as Secretary General of IPrA and his scholarly contributions to the field.

Below some pictures of this very special occasion, hosted by John, Claire and Seline Benjamins.

Jef Verschueren