Social Communication Development

social communication definition

• how language is used for a social purpose- the social use of language

• its about what we say verbally and nonverbally

important aspects of social communication

1) communication functions- using language for different reasons

2) pragmatic rules during conversations

3) knowledge of social rules- we know what to say and when to say it

when communicating for a social purpose we use __

linguistic, extralinguistic, and nonlinguistic means

key pragmatic developmental milestones that are seen from 0-9 months

• briefly looks at people

• follows moving person with eyes

• quiets in response to sound (responds more readily to speech)

• smiles/ coos in response to another smile/ voice (1-4 months)

• excites when caregiver approaches (1-4 months)

• aware of strangers and unfamiliar situations (1-4 months)

• cries differentially when tired, hungry, or in pain

• quiets when picked up

• initiates vocalizing to another person

• enjoys being played with (4-8 months)

• differentiates vocalizations for different states: hunger, anger, contentment (4-8 months)

• recognizes familiar people

• cries when parent leaves room

• imitates familiar sounds and actions

there is a rapid burst of social communication development within

9-12 months of age

key pragmatic developmental milestones that are seen from 9-12 months

• shouts or coughs to attract attention

• shakes head no and pushes undesired objects away

• waives bye

• affectionate to familiar people

• begins directing others’ behavior physically and through gestures (pats, pulls, tugs on adult)

• uses pointing to learn new vocabulary (people in environment label things as child points)

• extends arm to be picked up

• participates in games like peek a boo and patty cake

• reaches to request an object

• begins to vary behavior according to emotional reactions of others; repeats actions that are laughed at

• participates in vocal play, using content and expression

key pragmatic developmental milestones that are seen from 12-18 months

• brings objects to show an adult

• requests objects by pointing and vocalizing or possibly using a word approximation

• solicits anothers attention vocally, physically, and possibly with a word

• gesturally requests action/ assistance (may give back toy to request reactivation)

• says bye and possibly other conversational ritual words like hi, thank you and please

• protests by saying no, shaking head, moving away, frowning, or pushing object away

• comments on object/ action by directing listeners attention to it with a point and vocalization or word approximation

• labels objects

• answers simple wh- questions with vocal response (may be unintelligible)

• acknowledges speech of another by giving eye contact, vocally responding, or repeating the same word

• teases, scolds, warns using gesure plus a vocalization or word approximation

key pragmatic developmental milestones that are seen from 18-24 months

• uses simple words or short phrases to express the intentions listed at the 12-18 month level

• names objects in front of others

• says “whats that” to elicit attention

• begins using single words and two word phrases to command, indicate possession, and express problems

• a lot of verbal turn taking

the absence of using possessive words like move, mine, etc. is an indicator that

social language may not be at the appropriate level

key pragmatic developmental milestones that are seen from 2-3 years

• engages in short dialogues: moves from 1 to 2 words, longer sentences

• verbally introduces and changes topic of discussion

• expresses emotions

• begins using language in imaginative ways

• begins providing descriptive details to facilitate

• uses attention getting words such as hey

• clarifies and requests clarification during a communication breakdown

• prenarrative development begins with heaps (collection of unrelated ideas) and sequences (story elements linked by perceptual bonds)

during a communication breakdown ___ are important to be a successful communicator

repair strategies

if a child doesn’t use repair strategies during a communication breakdown—

conversations may be terminated earlier due to confusion and misunderstanding

a child with social communication weakness may have trouble with

expressing and understanding emotions of themselves and others

what is a foundational conversational skill that develops between age 2-3?

clarifying and requesting clarification during a communication breakdown

what are the types/modes of communication that preschoolers use?

• private monologues

• collective monologues

• associated monologues

definition of private monologues

• socialized speech based on degrees of social communication intended by the child

• child is talking to themselves

definition of collective monologues

• more social in nature

• occur when preschooler is playing in the presence of another child

• appear to be taking turns, but really they’re both having independent monologues

definition of associated monologues

• children contributing to conversation on a shared topic

• no apparent intention to convey info

• doesn’t influence others behaviors

setting events definition

a context or stimuli sets the occasion for interactions

physical stimuli

• objects

• things occurring around them

• toys, furniture, household items

chemical stimuli

smelling and touching things around us

organismic stimuli

• biological and physiological activities of our body

• hunger, thirst, pain, tired, sick

social stimuli

center on peoples appearance, actions, speech, etc

why do preschoolers conversational skills become more sophisticated?

because their life experiences are expanding- they are more mobile, seeing more stuff, doing more stuff

as children age, their topics of conversation can be about

present or past information and events

social communication skills in preschoolers

• gaining independence

• gaining personality

• more cooperative

• communicate desires using language- othering others around: 27 m

• attention seeking: demand more attention from caregiver, 30 m

• empathy: 33 m

• independent play and selecting play mates: 36 m

• sharing: 39 m

• defending possessions: 42 m

• cooperative play: 45 m, taking turns

  • by 4 years, they give up immediate gratification based on a promise of delayed privalege

• showing off: 5 years, to gain others attention

in what time frame do conversational skills expand to certain topics and experience reflections

between 2nd birthday and kindergarten

during preschool, children develop a sensitivity to their communication partners need for

background information and clarification

as ____ increase, play behaviors will reflect growth in cognition, motor skills, and language abilities

play skills

social communication skills are further developed through

play

definition of symbolic play

• child plays with one thing and pretends its something else

• will use this type when the child starts using words and symbols to stand for things

definition of solitary play

child plays independently even if another child is present

definition of parallel play

children playing near each other or with similar things but dont interact

definition of cooperative play

children interact with each other to organize and execute a play scheme

discourse skills- cohesion

• topic introduction

• turn taking- develop cues

  • preschoolers take more turns per topic as experiences and cognitive skills grow

  • 2/3 year olds: 1-2 turns per topic

  • 4 year olds: 4-5 turns

• presupposition- speakers ability to judge listeners language abilities, experiences, and awareness of relevant info

  • improves after age 3

  • demonstrated when a person adjusts their message based on listeners language level or understanding of certain topics

• topic maintenance- commenting, answering, asking questions

  • by age 5, child has the ability to maintain topic by taking 10+ turns

  • topic not maintained- use repair strategies

  • preschoolers do not request conversational repairs with adults

  • preschoolers develop grammatical ellipses

narratives

at least 2 independent clauses produced in succession and relate to a single event

parts of a narrative

• recounts

• event casts

• accounts

• stories

definition of recounts

report a past event, usually in chronological order in response to a question

definition of event casts

• sets stage by describing goals, relationships, and recent events

• explains an ongoing activity, reports a factual scene, tells about future plans

definition of accounts

• more detailed

• share experiences and include eval and interpretation of the event

definition of stories

• generally fictitious

• characters, settings, initiating events that propel story, attempts to solve problem and consequences

• temporal markers (first, next, then, finally)

key developmental social pragmatic skills seen in 3-4 year olds

• use of longer dialogues

• assumes the role of another person in play; increase in symbolic and interactive play skills

• uses more fillers to acknowledge partners message (uh-huh, ok)

• begins code switching (using simpler language) with younger children

• uses more elliptical responses

• requests permission

• begins using language for fantasies, jokes, teasing

• makes conversational repairs when listener has not understood

• corrects others

• primitive narratives; events follow from central core/ use of inference in stories

• topic maintenance for 3 turns and provides explanations

• requests more information to keep conversation going

• appropriate eye contact

• terminates conversation appropriately

• uses hints to get listner to do/ get something

• refines speech to ensure listener has background information

• role playing

• temporarily assumes anothers perspective jokes with conversation partner, provides warning, teases

key developmental social communication milestones in 4-6 year olds

• uses indirect requests

• correctly uses this, that, there, and here

• uses twice as many effective utterances as 3 year old to discuss emotions and feelings

• narrative development characterized by unfocused chains; stories have sequence of events but no central character or theme

• tells a story by looking at pictures

• describes functions of objects

• communicates cause and effect relationships

• uses contingent queries to maintain a conversation

• creates interest in a listener by indirect references

• communicates knowledge about the world to peers and adults

• tells 2 familiar stories without pictures for help; includes all important parts

• sustains a topic for 4 turns

• provides information to questions involving time concepts

• will answer/ ask wh questions

• asks permission to use others belongings

• uses such terms as thank you, please, and youre welcome appropriately

• recognizes anothers need for help and provides assistance

• states a problem

• extends topic

what is a good indicator of successful pragmatic language development

using appropriate eye contact

key developmental social communication milestones in 6-8 year olds

• repeats with elaboration for repair

• begins to use different topics for different genders

• narratives are true stories with central focus, high point, and resolution

• identify and describe the elements of plot, setting, and characters in a story, as well as beginning, middle and ending of the story

• predict what will happen next in a narrative based on context, keywords

• produces all elements of story grammar; stories contain complete episodes with internal goals, motivations, and reactions of characters

• language is used to establish and maintain social status

• increased perspective taking allows for more succesful persuasion

• understands jokes and riddles based on sound similarities