Social Use of Language: What is Pragmatic Language?

During playtime at school, a child wants to join a game of tag. They approach a group of other children and ask, “Can I play too?” This demonstrates understanding of social rules like asking questions, initiating interactions, and maintaining topics.

The scenario above illustrates an example of what pragmatic language is. According to ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association), pragmatic language encompasses the social use of language to communicate effectively. It is not just about what children say, but how they say it and whether their communication fits the situation.

Rules of Pragmatic Language

Our world is full of “hidden social rules”- knowing when to take turns in conversations, understanding how to get someone’s attention, and understanding sarcasm are all unspoken pragmatic rules. ASHA connects pragmatic language with hidden social rules by highlighting unspoken expectations during conversations or interactions. These rules, though not explicitly stated, guide how people communicate and relate with the world around them.

Understanding these cues can be challenging for individuals with communication disorders because it involves complex connections made between spoken and unspoken rules of communication. For example, if I ask, “How are you?” and you answer, “I’m living the dream…” or “I am just dandy,” this could be taken at face value and seem like you are having a good day. However, most of the time, people who answer this are using sarcasm, which can be difficult to understand for those not fluent in pragmatic language.

Key Elements of Pragmatic Language

Key elements of pragmatic language include both verbal and non-verbal means of communication. Below are some examples:

• Verbal Means
  • Using language for a variety of purposes, such as requesting, protesting, affirming, advocating, commenting, and directing.
  • Initiating and responding to interactions (conversational and play based turn-taking)
  • Topic maintenance
  • Conversations
  • Repairing communicative breakdowns
• Non-verbal Means
  • Body language (posture)
  • Gesture (pointing, reaching)
  • Facial expression (smiling, frowning, scowling)
  • Gaze (gaze shifts)
  • Proximity to others

Pragmatic Language at Different Stages

Depending upon the child’s age, depends upon the level of which their pragmatic language develops. Pragmatic Language looks different at each stage of development.

Babies and toddlers begin with preverbal skills, like babbling and using gestures to express needs. They develop joint attention, focusing on objects or events with others, and engage in simple turn-taking interactions, such as playing peek-a-boo.

Toddlers start using words and simple phrases to communicate. They begin recognizing and responding to nonverbal cues, like facial expressions and body language. Early conversational skills emerge, though these conversations are still brief and limited.

Preschoolers expand their vocabulary and sentence structure for more complex communication. They start understanding humor and sarcasm through social context and develop early perspective-taking skills. Participation in group activities helps with turn-taking and sharing.

Children refine conversational skills, including staying on topic, turn-taking, and asking relevant questions. They improve perspective-taking, recognizing others’ thoughts and feelings. Critical thinking skills emerge, enabling them to resolve peer conflicts more effectively.

Strategies for Building Pragmatic Language

1. Create a Language-Rich Environment

Surround children with opportunities to hear and use language in meaningful ways. Read books together, engage in everyday conversations, and encourage imaginative play. These activities help your child build vocabulary and learn how language works in different social contexts. Even if your child does not speak yet, narrate the environment, model conversations, and mirror back non-verbal cues to reinforce pragmatics at an early age!

2. Encourage Social Interactions

Social interactions are the perfect practice ground for pragmatic skills. Arrange playdates and model social interactions around children. Model conversational turn taking, conversation initiation, and perspective taking. Children mirror what they see and are exposed to. Providing consistent, positive examples of effective social communication helps them internalize these skills and use them naturally in their own interactions.

3. Role-Playing

Help children prepare for various social situations by creating simple role-playing activities, which can be done during pretend play or during shared book readings. During pretend play, act out scenarios like ordering food, joining a game, or resolving a disagreement to practice communication skills such as asking questions and expressing needs. While reading books, discuss how characters interact and encourage your child to take on a role, helping them explore empathy and perspective-taking. Role-playing can also prepare children for upcoming events, boosting their confidence and equipping them to manage new or challenging situations.

4. Encourage Storytelling

Storytelling is a powerful way to help children develop their pragmatic language skills, as it encourages them to organize their thoughts, share experiences, and connect emotionally with their listeners. Ask your child to share what happened during their day, prompting them with open-ended questions like, “What happened first? Then what? How did you feel?” These questions guide them in structuring their story sequentially while also helping them reflect on their emotions and the reactions of others.

Tying it all Together

Pragmatic language is all around us, shaping how children interact, learn, and grow. Whether they are asking to play on the swings, explaining their favorite TV show, or comforting a friend, kids rely on these skills every day. By understanding what pragmatic language is and fostering these abilities, we can help children build stronger relationships, succeed in school, and thrive socially.