本教程是编者自1981年以来，在对外经济贸易大学和其他大学进行语言学教学和研究以及过去五年来为研究生开设语用学教学实践的基础上编写的。本书从宏观的功能派语言学和社会语言学角度，阐释语言的实际运用，不同于迄今为止出版的各类语用学教材。

本书共分三部分，由九个章节组成。第一部分：讨论语用学与语境。分两章，首先介绍语言研究如何发展出语用学，语用学的研究对象，然后讨论语境研究的重要性。第二部分：语言的实际运用。分四章，分别介绍言语行为理论、会话合作原则、礼貌原则和礼貌策略理论。第三部分：语言实际运用分析，分三章介绍语言变体理论、语言衔接理论和话语分析理论。各章节附有复习题、笔头作业、参考书目和参考答案。本教程既可作为英语专业高年级学生和研究生用书，又可作为同等学历人员的自学参考。

Part Ⅰ Introduction

Chapter 1 What Is Pragmatics？

 1.1 Development in the Study of Language

 1.2 Concept of Pragmatics

 1.3 Differences Between Semantics and Pragmatics

 Questions for Review

 Book for Reference

 Exercises

Chapter 2 What Is Context？

 2.1 Importance of Context in Verbal Communication

 2.2 Hymes' Concept of Communicative Competence and Context Variables

 2.3 Functional Approach to Context

 2.4 Necessary Knowledge for Verbal Communication

 2.5 Appropriate Principle in Verbal Communication

 Questions for Review

 Books for Reference

 Exercises

Part Ⅱ Study of Language in Use

Chapter 3 What Is Speech Act Theory？

 3.1 Speech Act Theory

 3.2 Performative Sentences

 3.3 Theory of Illocutionary Acts

 3.4 Significance of Speech Act Theory

 Questions for Review

 Books for Reference

 Exercises

Chapter 4 What Are Conversational Implicature and Cooperative Principle？

 4.1 Relationship Between Form and Function of Language

 4.2 Theory of Conversational Implicature

 4.3 Features of Conversational Implicature

 4.4 Grice's Cooperative Principle and the Four Maxims

 4.5 Flouting of the Maxims

 4.6 Use of Conversation Hedges

 Questions for Review

 Books for Reference

 Exercises

Chapter 5 What Is Politeness Principle？

 5.1 Politeness in Verbal Interaction

 5.2 Politeness Principle

 5.3 Problems with Leech's Theory

 5.4 Politeness Principle in China

 Questions for Review

 Books for Reference

 Exercises

Chapter 6 What are Brown and Levinson's Politeness Strategies？

 6.1 The Concept of ' Face' of Brown and Levinson

 6.2 Face-threatening Act, Face-saving Act and Face-saving Strategies

 6.3 The Framework of Politeness Strategies Suggested by Brown and Levinson

 6.4 Positive Politeness, Negative Politeness and Their Strategies

 6.5 Problems in Cross-Cultural Communication

 Questions for Review

 Book for Reference

 Exercises

Part Ⅲ Analyses of Language in Use

Chapter 7 What Is Variation Theory in Language？ 

7.1 Concept of Varieties

7.2 Varieties of Language

7.3 Gregory's Framework of Communication Linguistics

7.4 Variation on All Levels of Language

7.5 Significance of Variation Theory in Language

Questions for Review

Books for Reference

Exercises

Chapter 8 What Is Cohesion？

8.1 Concept of Cohesion

8.2 Cohesive Devices in English

8.3 Sample Analyses of Cohesion

Questions for Review

Books for Reference

Exercises

Chapter 9 What Is Discourse Analysis？

9.1 Discourse, Text and Discourse Analysis

9.2 Analyses of Discourse

9.3 Steps for Discourse Analyses

Questions for Review

Books for Reference

Exercises

Suggested Syllabus

Model Key to Exercises

Bibliography