THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE IN PRAGMATICS

Abstract

This article explores the historical perspective in pragmatics, focusing on the evolution of language use and pragmatic meaning across different historical periods. It argues that pragmatic meaning is shaped by social, cultural, and ideological contexts and therefore cannot be fully interpreted without diachronic analysis. Using a qualitative descriptive methodology, the study examines historical texts such as personal letters, legal documents, and literary works. Key pragmatic phenomena, including speech acts, politeness strategies, forms of address, deixis, and implicature, are analyzed within the theoretical frameworks of pragmatics and historical linguistics. The findings reveal that pragmatic conventions undergo systematic change over time, reflecting shifts in social structure and communicative norms. The article highlights the significance of historical pragmatics for the accurate interpretation of past discourse and its contribution to contemporary pragmatic theory.