Pragmatic language

The aspect of language concerned with how context, tone, social norms, and shared knowledge shape meaning beyond the literal words spoken or written. Pragmatic language skills include understanding sarcasm, irony, and implied meaning; interpreting tone and intent; making appropriate conversational inferences; and adjusting communication style to different social contexts. Pragmatic language differences are common in autism and can create significant barriers in both face-to-face and text-based communication. Assistive tools that explain tone, flag ambiguity, or suggest contextually appropriate phrasings can support pragmatic language processing.