Pragmatics also referred to as Social Language skills are the study of speaker-listener intentions and interactions, and all elements in the environment surrounding the message.
Birth – 6 months
- Startles to loud sounds
- Responds to voice and sound
- Turns head toward sound source
- Watches the speaker’s face when spoken to
- Discriminates between strangers and familiar people
- Stops crying when spoken to
- Varies responses to different family members
- Smiles when spoken to
- Has a social smile
- Uses babbling for gaining attention and expressing demand
- Establishes eye contact
6 – 12 months
- Responds to “No”
- Responds to name and pats image of self in mirror
- Points to learn new vocabulary
- Tries to “talk” to the listener
- Coos and squeals for attention
- Laughs when playing with objects
- Tries to communicate by actions and gestures
- Smiles at self in mirror
- Plays pat-a-cake and peek-a-boo games
- Copies simple actions of others
- Shouts to attract attention
1 – 2 years
- Follows simple directions, especially with a gestural cue
- Waves bye-bye
- Indicates wet pants
- Repeats actions that made someone laugh
- Engages in parallel play
- Pairs gestures with words to make wants known (e.g. “more” and “up”
- Imitates adult behaviors in play
- Refers to self by name
- Exhibits verbal turn-taking
- Protests by vocalizing “No”
- Engages in simple pretend play, such as talking on a telephone
- Says “bye” and other social words, such as “Hi”, “Thank you”, and “Please”
- Talks to self during play
- Practices intonation, sometimes imitating an adult
2 -3 years
- Watches other children and briefly joins in their play
- Participates in associate play
- Requests permission for items or activities
- Begins to use language for fantasies, jokes, and teasing
- Makes conversational repairs when listeners do not understand
- Engages in longer dialogues
- Begins to play pretend house
- Participates in simple group activities
- Defends own possessions
- Carries on “conversation” with self and dolls
- Engages in simple, make-believe activities
- Begins to control behavior verbally rather than just physically
- Holds up fingers to tell the age
- Looks for missing toys
- Helps put things away
3 – 4 years
- Follows two-step related directions without cues
- Takes turns and plays cooperatively
- Relates personal experiences through verbalization
- Separates from primary caregiver easily
- Frequently practices conversation skills by talking to self
- Shows frustration if not understood
- Expresses ideas and feelings
4 – 5 years
- Follows three-step directions without cues
- Uses direct requests with justification (e.g. “Stop that”)
- Uses words to invite others to play
- Uses language to resolve disputes with peers
- Plays competitive exercise games
- Has good control of the elements of conversation
- Speaks of imaginary conditions, such as “What if…” or “I hope…
5 -6 years
- Begins to use wordplays
- Uses threats and promises
- Asks meanings of words
- Likes to complete projects
- Makes purchases for information
- Chooses own friends
- Takes more care in communicating with unfamiliar people
- Engages in cooperative play, such as making group decisions, assigning roles, and playing fairly
- Announces topic shifts