Pragmatics in Comparison

Offering a comprehensive and nuanced comparison of pragmatics in Chinese and Japanese, this book examines key areas such as speech act realization and politeness strategies.

This volume fills the gap in the research on pragmatics in Chinese and Japanese by systematically comparing pragmatic phenomena across the two linguacultures. With contributions from leading experts and promising young scholars, each chapter presents data-driven empirical research that illuminates the unique communicative patterns of these languages in both face-to-face and online interactions. Authentic language data, including conversations and social media excerpts, bring pragmatic principles to life, making the book both accessible and engaging. Its interdisciplinary approach also ensures a multidimensional perspective on pragmatic variation, enriching the readers’ understanding of these languages’ pragmatic dimensions.

This book promises a wealth of insights for academics and scholars of pragmatics, sociolinguistics, linguistic anthropology, communication studies, and second language education.