Despite its name, Pragmatics is not a special property of any particular medium, cognitive system, or social context. The research of this branch of the natural sciences seeks to discover the general principles of communication. The basic idea is that spoken words enact the resolution of an indefinite number of potential choices. This resolution is based on the interaction between various linguistic and bodily propensities.
Pragmatics is an important part of the understanding of language. In particular, it involves the way that people use language in social settings. This is particularly important to those with autism spectrum disorders who have difficulty with social communication.
In social settings, people adhere to certain rules. These rules can be either implicit or explicit. For example, it is important to know how to respond to a certain type of question. In a classroom, children might raise their hands to answer a question instead of shouting. This shows that they have pragmatic skills. However, it is also important to remember that not all children develop these skills through social settings. They may learn them from their parents or caregivers.
There are many ways to teach pragmatics. In the classroom, a teacher may add pragmatics lessons to existing lesson plans. For example, an instructor may add information about different ways people apologize in their home language. The instructor may also add a request scenario activity. During this activity, the instructor and students discuss appropriate responses to various request scenarios.