Assessment and L2 pragmatics

Abstract Pragmatic and interactional abilities are represented in major models of second language (L2) communicative competence (Bachman & Palmer, 2010; Canale & Swain, 1980), which provide the framework for L2 assessment. However, pragmatics and interaction are only rarely tested in major operational tests. This is despite a significant amount of work in the testing of L2 pragmatics and interaction since the mid-1990s. This paper outlines current work on testing of L2 pragmatics, which broadly follows two traditions, one informed by speech act theory, politeness theory and philosophical pragmatics, and the other by conversation analysis and sociology. It also discusses reasons for the limited uptake of pragmatics assessment by large-scale tests, including low practicality, limited stakeholder test literacy, and broader challenges in testing pragmatics. It concludes by suggesting ways of overcoming these obstacles and thereby achieving better construct representation in L2 tests.