Pragmatic is a philosophy of language that investigates the way people use words to convey meaning. It also tries to examine what happens when the meaning of a word changes, or when other factors influence how that word is used. Pragmatics is an approach to language and communication that differs from semantics, which looks at the actual objects or ideas to which a word refers, and syntax, which examines relationships among signs or symbols.
Pragmatism arose in the United States around 1870 and presented an alternative to analytic and continental (European) philosophical traditions. The classic pragmatists were Charles Sanders Peirce, who articulated the theory and William James, who developed it. Later pragmatists include Josiah Royce at Radcliffe/Harvard, who critiqued prevailing individualist ontologies and contributed a pragmatic theory of human action; George Herbert Mead, who influenced phenomenology; and Mary Parker Follett, who helped develop feminism.
The aim of a pragmatic philosophy is to find ways to solve problems and achieve goals that are relevant to real-life situations and circumstances. People who are pragmatic are able to focus on what works best in the long run rather than what might be considered “traditional” or “right.”
When it comes to language, pragmatics is all about how you use it in social situations and how you adapt your behavior to different cultures. For instance, in some cultures, it’s polite to make eye contact while in others it’s rude. Pragmatics is important for children to learn so that they can communicate with adults and other children in a way that is appropriate to the culture they are in.
Children pick up their pragmatics skills as they grow up and interact with other children, parents, and adults in everyday life. However, if a child has delayed pragmatic development, it can be challenging for them to participate in conversations and interact in the same social settings as their peers. This can be particularly difficult for a deaf child who may have to rely on sign language or cued speech instead of oral communication.
If you think your deaf child is struggling with pragmatic language and social communication skills, talk to their doctor or therapist for advice and resources. Our digital booklet, Supporting the pragmatic and social communication skills of deaf children, explores pragmatics in depth and includes fun activities you can try at home to help your child improve their pragmatic skills.