Pragmatics

The social use of language—how context, relationship, and conversational norms affect what we say and how we interpret others. Pragmatics includes understanding implied meaning, adjusting speech for different audiences, taking turns in conversation, and recognizing non-literal language like sarcasm or idioms. Individuals with autism or social communication disorder often have intact vocabulary and grammar but struggle with pragmatic aspects of language, leading to communication that seems too literal, off-topic, or socially awkward.