What study focuses on how context impacts the interpretation of language?

Pragmatics is the study that focuses on how context affects the interpretation of language. This field explores not only the words and structures used in communication but also the situational context, cultural factors, and the relationship between the speakers and listeners involved. For instance, the meaning of a statement can change dramatically based on the situation in which it is uttered, the tone of voice, or even the shared background knowledge of the interlocutors. By examining these aspects, pragmatics helps to elucidate how meaning is constructed in real-life interactions, taking into account factors such as speaker intent and implicature.

Other fields, while related to language, do not primarily focus on the role of context in the same manner. Sociolinguistics examines the relationship between language and society, including aspects like dialects and language variety, but it is more concerned with the social factors influencing language use rather than the immediate context of interpretation. Semantics deals with meaning at the level of words and sentences, focusing on the inherent meanings of expressions without considering the surrounding context. Syntax, on the other hand, addresses the structure and rules governing the arrangement of words in sentences, which is more about form than the interpretation influenced by context.