The Handbook of Pragmatics is a collection of newly commissioned articles that provide an authoritative and accessible introduction to the field, including an overview of the foundations of pragmatic theory and a detailed examination of the rich and varied theoretical and empirical subdomains of pragmatics. * Contains 32 newly commissioned articles that outline the central themes and challenges for current research in the field of linguistic pragmatics. * Provides authoritative and accessible introduction to the field and a detailed examination of the varied theoretical and empirical subdomains of pragmatics. * Includes extensive bibliography that serves as a research tool for those working in pragmatics and allied fields in linguistics, philosophy, and cognitive science. * Valuable resource for both students and professional researchers investigating the properties of meaning, reference, and context in natural language.