Exploring De-Pragmatization as a Language Enrichment Strategy with Reference to Iraqi Arabic

This study deals with having the pragmatic force of a given expression be lost under certain processes of de-contextualization, conventionalization and abstraction. This phenomenon is introduced under the term ‘de- pragmatization’. It is addressed as a broad strategy that enriches language with new contexts of use for expressions that already exist in different contexts. The phenomenon in question is tested via selected expressions from Iraqi Arabic, as an objective to explore the strategies of de-pragmatization to borrow new contexts through certain strategies such as semantic erosion, formalization, institutionalization, disambiguation, simplification, elimination of the cultural aspects, loss of context, literalization, avoiding pragmatic markers, and abstractions. The de-pragmatized expressions can be identified with such features as recontextualization, minimizing illocutionary load, conventional meaning, frequent use, and used by people of influence. This process plays a key role in shaping language and future communication modes as it can be viewed as a significant indicator of a language’s adaptability and responsiveness to societal paradigm shifts.