Pragmatic is a way of thinking that takes into account the consequences of actions for all involved. In practical terms, pragmatism means being willing to do what works, and not being afraid of changing one’s mind. In philosophical terms, pragmatism is a form of philosophy that rejects traditional doctrines and focuses on the reality of experience and human rationality.
Pragmatism is a broad philosophical movement that was spawned in the 19th century by Charles Peirce, William James and others. Pragmatism has had a significant impact on many other disciplines, including psychology, sociology and cognitive science. It is often combined with existentialism, naturalism and hedonism to form a hybrid theory of knowledge that is known as pragmatism and naturalism (Radvanovic & Levine, 2005).
The pragmatist approach to pragmatics has been an important influence on psycholinguistics and the wider field of cognitive science. The work of linguists such as Kenneth Cohn, John Searle and Richard Swedberg has provided a strong foundation for much contemporary research in pragmatics. In recent years, philosophers have also contributed to the pragmatist dialogue with significant work on theorising inquiry, meaning and the nature of truth. Jurgen Habermas, for example, developed a discourse ethics that draws on pragmatism to challenge instrumentalist rationality in the context of the lifeworld as irremediably social and hermeneutically self-reflexive. (Habermas 1981).
During the course of childhood, children’s natural pragmatic abilities develop as they become more socially aware and interact with a wide range of people in different contexts. This is a normal part of the development process and helps them to learn how to be a good citizen and to make healthy choices. In adolescence, pragmatic behaviour is further encouraged by the increasing complexity of their social world and the increased autonomy they gain from their parents.
Individuals who have difficulties with pragmatic language are often disadvantaged in their everyday interactions and can face difficulty establishing and maintaining relationships, and may experience misunderstandings. It is important for individuals who are experiencing pragmatic communication difficulties to seek professional help and support. A speech-language pathologist can evaluate a person’s pragmatic language skills and recommend treatment strategies for improvement. However, it is important to note that pragmatic disorders are different from other communication disorders such as articulation and phonology, auditory processing disorder and apraxia. Not everyone who experiences pragmatic communication difficulties wants to receive therapy, and that is okay as well.