The first of several widely accepted theories, the pragmatic approach is based on the idea that the literal meaning of a particular phrase must be rejected. It does not make sense literally, therefore we must seek to find and interpret an alternative, figurative meaning in the speech or text.
This theory works solely with metaphor, not with other examples of figurative language. Its basis is the idea that metaphors are not just creative use of language, but that they are necessary to help us make sense of certain large, universal concepts that would be impossible to discuss in literal terms, like love.
This theory also looks mainly at metaphor, but from a completely different standpoint than the conceptual metaphor theory. Metaphor here is used as a way to include all people in a discussion. The phrase "schools are prisons," popularized in the Sex Pistols' 1989 song of the same name, is an example of a metaphor that fits this theory. This lyric was attractive to young people from different countries, backgrounds and levels of education because it is a feeling all students can identify with at one time or another, and so its usage breaches typical social and economic divides.
This hypothesis suggests that, no matter how many meanings (both literal and figurative) can be drawn from a statement or a text, the salient meaning will be the first to be recognized among listeners or readers. In this case, the salient meaning could refer to either the figurative or literal meaning of the words.