What is Social Pragmatic Language?

Social pragmatic language referes to the rules that we follow about when and how you should communicate with people.

We use facial expressions or gestures to share how we feel. We change our tone of voice or use specific words and language with different people (a teacher vs. a peer). Knowing and using these rules improves communication and helps with building and maintaining relationships in our world.

Social Communication Skills

Social communication includes three major skills:

Using language for different reasons, such as:

Greeting. Saying "hello" or "goodbye."
Informing. "I'm going to get a cookie."
Demanding. "Give me a cookie right now."
Promising. "I'm going to get you a cookie."
Requesting. "I want a cookie, please."

Changing language for the listener or situation, such as:

Talking differently to a baby than to an adult.
Giving more information to someone who does not know the topic. Knowing to skip some details when someone already knows the topic.
Talking differently in a classroom than on a playground.

Following rules for conversations and storytelling, such as:

Taking turns when you talk.
Letting others know the topic when you start talking.
Staying on topic.
Trying another way of saying what you mean when someone did not understand you.
Using gestures and body language, like pointing or shrugging.
Knowing how close to stand to someone when talking.
Using facial expressions and eye contact.

These rules may be different if you come from another culture.

Resource: ASHA

What can I do?

Michelle Garcia Winner is a Speech-Language Pathologist who is one of the top go-to experts on Social Communication. She is the founder of an entire website and various curriculum materials dedicated to Social Pragmatic Language and Social Communicaiton Skills. You can watch some free webinars to see how she teaches some of these skills and why it is important. There are also several available articles that are free to access on her site.

These "Social Thinking" principles and vocabulary are used often in social skills lessons. "Without our ability to interpret and imagine other people's experiences, we have trouble with reasoning skills, problem solving skills, and this is how it goes across our curriculum." - Michelle Garcia Winner

Social Thinking Website

Whole Body Listening

Social Thinking Methodology Video - Michelle Garcia Winner

The Social Thinking Methodology is in complete alignment with the following:

Social-Emotional Learning as described at www.CASEL.org
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports as described at www.PBIS.org
Common Core Standards, State Educational Standards, and Country Educational Standards from around the world.

I've found that using (mostly) wordless videos helps students rely on reading facial expressions, sounds animals or people make, and physical actions/body language in order to figure out what is happening. I love using Simon's Cat videos as examples and pausing often to talk about what is happening. Ask your child to predict what may happen next, or what a character may be feeling and why. These are important skills to teach in order to be socially aware and demonstrate expected behavior in a situation. Check out one of my favorites to show kids: Fly Guy! Click the link below to view the archive of the Simon's Cat Films! They are also found on YouTube.

Simon's Cat Films

Other Resources

Social Skills and Behavior-Related Materials