pragmalinguistics (n.)

A term sometimes used within the study of PRAGMATICS, to refer to the study of LANGUAGE use from the viewpoint of a language’s STRUCTURAL resources; it contrasts with those pragmatic studies which examine the conditions on language use which derive from the social SITUATION (some-times referred to as SOCIOPRAGMATICS). A pragmalinguistic approach might begin with the PRONOUN system of a language, and examine the way in which people choose different forms to express a range of attitudes and relationships (such as deference and intimacy). The latter approach might begin with the social backgrounds of the participants in an INTERACTION, and examine the way in which different factors (such as age, sex, class) lead people to choose particular pronouns.