A branch of linguistics which investigates the role context plays in the formation of meaning. It draws on the Austin, John Langshaw theory of the performative, but also incorporates elements of anthropology and sociology. It is interested in the way users of a particular language draw on non-linguistic cues to disambiguate the intent of a particular piece of communication (e.g. to determine whether a comment was a jest or insult, flirtatious or harassing, etc.).