What are pragmatic skills in language?

Pragmatic skills in language refer to the social language skills used during everyday interactions. These skills encompass how individuals use language in varied social contexts, understand social cues, engage in conversations, and maintain effective communication with others. Pragmatic language includes aspects such as eye contact, turn-taking in conversations, topic management, and adjusting language based on the audience or setting.

Understanding pragmatic skills is crucial because they play a significant role in facilitating effective communication and social relationships. Individuals with strong pragmatic skills are often better able to interpret the intentions and emotions of others, navigate social norms, and engage successfully with peers.

The other options provided focus on different aspects of language. For instance, reading and writing effectively pertains to literacy skills rather than pragmatic usage. Grammatical rules involve the structure of language, and the understanding of phonetic sounds relates to phonology. While all these elements contribute to overall language competence, they do not encapsulate the social and contextual nature inherent in pragmatic skills.