Pragmatic Socialization

Abstract

This chapter reviews literature in both first language (L1) pragmatic socialization and the pragmatic (re)socialization or ongoing socialization oflearners in various learning contexts in bilingual and multilingual societies. The studies reveal aspects of the acquisition of language and sociocultural competence as develop- mentally intertwined processes occurring within daily routine activities. In these settings, children and other novices learn to interpret, negotiate, and index meaning while (co-)constructing different types of social/cultural identities and relationships. Research done within the framework of pragmatic socialization demonstrates a more social and contextual orientation than traditional interlanguage pragmatics, offering researchers opportunities to look at the inter- active nature and the social functions ofpragmatic behaviors and linguistic forms that are deeply embedded in the rapidly changing, multilingual world in new and illuminating ways.