Pragmatics of Linguistics (Japanese Pragmatics)

Author: (Japanese) Koizumi Yasushi, translated by Chen Fangze et al.
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2005-12-01
Features: This book is rich in content. In addition to introducing the basic knowledge of pragmatics in the preface, such as the inherent and explicit meanings of language, the distinction between semantics and pragmatics, the relationship between meaning and context, and the connection between context and implication, the book is divided into five chapters. It provides detailed discussions on essential topics of general pragmatics, including meaning, deictics, implicature, presupposition, and speech acts. Professor Koizumi breaks away from the usual dry and complex style of linguistic, making his book clear, lively, and engaging. For each topic, he often uses Japanese or foreign anecdotes or legends as illustrations. These stories cover a wide range of subjects, including literature, society, culture, and folklore from Japan and other countries. Readers not only gain insights into the pragmatic phenomena discussed but also expand their knowledge in literature, history, culture, and folklore. The arrangement of this alone is enough to impress us with Professor Koizumi's profound erudition. Although the book focuses on Japanese pragmatics, Professor Koizumi includes extensive comparisons between Japanese and English, as well as Japanese and Chinese. This allows readers to not only deeply understand the pragmatic characteristics of Japanese but also recognize the similarities and differences between Japanese and other languages in terms of pragmatics.