Pragmatic is an approach to language and meaning that emphasizes how we use words and the functions that they perform. It is sometimes referred to as “functional grammar.” A pragmatist view of language would see it as a social tool that serves functional purposes such as expressing our needs, wants and intentions.
Pragmatism is a school of philosophical thought that has many branches. A common form of the philosophy is a utilitarian one that seeks to promote good and minimize harm in society. This type of pragmatism has been influential in the social sciences, especially in sociology and anthropology. It also has had an influence on education and policy, particularly in the United States. It is sometimes viewed as an alternative to the analytical philosophy of Descartes and the objectivist philosophy of Kant.
Although the word pragmatism is often used as a synonym for practical philosophy, it has a much wider scope than this. The philosophy is actually a way of looking at the world and dealing with it that is based on experience. It has its roots in the Greek pragma, which means action or affair. A number of famous philosophers have been pragmatists including Chauncey Wright, Oliver Wendell Holmes and Charles Sanders Peirce.
Unlike empiricism, pragmatism does not insist on a particular method for the collection of data. It is not a philosophy of mere observation but rather a philosophical methodology that includes a combination of a number of approaches to logic, epistemology and metaphysics. Various forms of empiricism, fallibilism, verificationism and a Quinean naturalist metaphilosophy are all elements of the philosophy.
As a result, the pragmatist is a pluralist in his or her approach to the world and is able to accept that there are multiple ways of viewing the same reality. The pragmatist believes that the most important aspect of any knowledge is the ability to make sense of it.
While pragmatism is an extremely broad approach to the world, it has a very strong focus on communication and interaction. This makes it an ideal approach for speech-language pathologists. Using visual supports, role playing and teaching pragmatic language skills are all strategies that can be utilized with children who have difficulties with pragmatics.
Pragmatics is a skill that most of us take for granted, but for those with autism spectrum disorders or other developmental disabilities, pragmatic language can be very challenging. Speech-language pathologists can evaluate a child for pragmatic language deficits and provide appropriate intervention. However, it is important to remember that the child’s/adult’s perspectives and goals must be honored. Not all children and adults need or want to receive pragmatic language intervention, and that is okay too.
