This encyclopaedia of one of the major fields of language studies is a continuously updated source of state-of-the-art information for anyone interested in language use. It provides easy access — for scholars with widely divergent backgrounds but with convergent interests in the use and functioning of language — to the different topics, traditions and methods which together make up the field of Pragmatics, broadly conceived as “the cognitive, social and cultural study of language and communication”. The Handbook of Pragmatics is a unique reference work for researchers: the main body of the Handbook is produced in loose-leaf format in 3-ring binders and is accompanied by the bound Manual which contains all necessary background information and user guidelines. The loose-leaf Handbook forms the basis of the Handbook proper giving an overview of the subfields, traditions, methodologies and concepts of Pragmatics. The Handbook is used as a basis for the online version: the Handbook of Pragmatics Online is being expanded and revised annually as of 2003. Future versions will add further records and will include updates, rewritings and extensive revisions of already existing records.