ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses what the study of the acquisition of formulaic language—pragmatic routines—reveals about the acquisition of second language (L2) pragmatics, namely how formulas are acquired and what pragmatic requirements there are to use them, and how researchers can best study them. It explores the formulaicity of L2 pragmatics and challenges to acquiring formulaic language. The chapter deals with research directions and applications of research to the teaching of pragmatic routines. Pragmatic routines are found in at least two types of L2 pragmatic studies: those in which routines are examined as one type of pragmalinguistic device among others, and those studies in which routines are the specific focus of investigation. From the perspective of pragmatics, pragmatic routines are tied to specific contexts and specific speech acts, two basic pragmatic constructs. Tracking the L2 acquisition and use of pragmatic routines reveals what kind of pragmatic knowledge is required to support their use.
