Pragmatics has grown considerably in its relatively short history, from its original disciplinary influences in philosophy and linguistics, into a multidisciplinary field that encompasses a range of theoretical and empirical concerns. The Pragmatics Encyclopedia captures the diversity of these intellectual interests in a comprehensive, single-volume edition.

The Pragmatics Encyclopedia covers concepts and theories that have traditionally been associated with pragmatics, but also recent areas of development within the field, scholars who have had a significant influence on pragmatics, interdisciplinary exchanges between pragmatics and other areas of enquiry and all major research trends. Extensive cross-references between entries, along with suggestions for further reading at the end of entries, ensure that the intereseted reader can pursue additional study of chosen topics.

With over 200 entries, written by leading academics from around the world, The Pragmatics Encyclopedia captures the rich complexity of pragmatics in an accesible manner. This reference work will be relevant to students of pragmatics as well as to established scholars in the field.