What is Social Language (Pragmatics)?
Social language/communication is the rules for how we use language in different situations with different people. It can include the following skills;
- Using language for different reasons: Greetings, sharing information, making requests, etc.
- Changing language for listener or situation: Using different tones of speech, sharing appropriate information, using proper language versus slang, etc.
- Following rules for conversations and storytelling : Turn-taking, eye contact, staying on topic, repairing communication breakdowns, using gestures, body language, and facial expressions, etc.
What are some difficulties a child or individual may experience with a social communication disorder?
An individual who struggles with social communication skills, may experience difficulties participating in social situations, developing and maintaining peer relationships, achieving academic success, and later in life performing successfully on the job.
Although difficulties with social communication skills are highly dependent on an individual's age and level of development, the following is a list of skills/behaviors impacted by deficit in social communication include;
- Using appropriate greetings
- Changing language and communication style based on setting or partner
- Telling and understanding stories
- Engaging in conversation
- Repairing communication breakdowns (e.g., rephrasing when misunderstood)
- Using appropriate verbal (e.g., tone of voice) and nonverbal (e.g., facial expression, gestures, body language) signals to support and interaction
- Interpreting the verbal and nonverbal signals of others during an interaction
- Understanding ambiguous or figurative language
- Understanding information no explicitly stated (inferring)
- Making and keeping close friendships
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