This article examines how meaning in language emerges through context rather than isolated words or sentences. Drawing on pragmatic theory, the paper explores key concepts such as context, reference, inference, presupposition, and implicature to demonstrate how textual meaning is constructed and interpreted. It analyzes different types of context?local, sentential, topical, and global?and discusses cognitive processes involved in inferencing. The study also elaborates on referential mechanisms, presupposition triggers, and Gricean conversational implicatures, emphasizing the cooperative principle and its maxims. The paper argues that effective textual interpretation requires shared background knowledge, cultural awareness, and pragmatic competence, making pragmatics essential for uncovering implicit meanings in discourse.
Lecturer in English, Jazan University, Jazan (K.S.A)
