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The interface between pragmatics and internet-mediated communication

Applications, extensions and adjustments
  • Francisco Yus
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Pragmatics and its Interfaces
This chapter is in the book Pragmatics and its Interfaces

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to apply pragmatics to internet-mediated communication. On paper, two broad and apparently incompatible premises constitute the foundation of these distinct applications: (1) internet-mediated communication “makes no difference” for a pragmatic analysis (we do not have specific cognitive mechanisms to interpret online discourses that differ from the ones used offline); and (2) internet “makes all the difference” (the inferential gap-filling made by internet users, intended to turn online texts into valid interpretations, is influenced by the interfaces used for interactions and the range of contextual support that users can access in the interpretation of these online discourses). This chapter will review pragmatic analyses of internet-mediated communication with an emphasis on a cyberpragmatic framework (Yus 2011a).

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to apply pragmatics to internet-mediated communication. On paper, two broad and apparently incompatible premises constitute the foundation of these distinct applications: (1) internet-mediated communication “makes no difference” for a pragmatic analysis (we do not have specific cognitive mechanisms to interpret online discourses that differ from the ones used offline); and (2) internet “makes all the difference” (the inferential gap-filling made by internet users, intended to turn online texts into valid interpretations, is influenced by the interfaces used for interactions and the range of contextual support that users can access in the interpretation of these online discourses). This chapter will review pragmatic analyses of internet-mediated communication with an emphasis on a cyberpragmatic framework (Yus 2011a).

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