Language Use

Language use involves knowing socially appropriate ways of communicating. Knowledge of vocabulary and syntax alone does not ensure proper use of language to achieve communication's purpose across varied social situations. Using language involves pragmatic intentions such as requesting, asking, thanking or demanding, so language use must be pragmatically correct or contextually appropriate, besides being grammatical and meaningful. Children often struggle with choosing appropriate, polite utterances, so their language use can convey a demand or command instead of a polite request; they also often have difficulty taking turns in speaking and listening the way adults do. …