Pragmatic Development

Pragmatic development describes how children learn to use language appropriately in social contexts — not just what to say, but when, where, how, and to whom to say it. While phonological, lexical, and grammatical development concern the structure of language, pragmatics concerns its function and use. This is a crucial area for AQA A-Level English Language, as it links language to social interaction and meaning.

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What Is Pragmatics?

Key Definition: Pragmatics — the study of how language is used in context to achieve communicative goals. Pragmatic competence involves understanding implied meaning, conversational rules, social appropriateness, and the functions that language serves.

Pragmatic competence includes:

• Knowing how to take turns in conversation
• Using language for different functions (requesting, informing, greeting, etc.)
• Understanding implied meaning (e.g. "It's cold in here" as a request to close a window)
• Adapting language to different audiences and contexts (register)
• Using politeness strategies and social rules
• Managing topics — introducing, maintaining, and changing the subject of conversation

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Halliday's Seven Functions of Language