Why would peers view a student as socially awkward?

Why would peers view a student as socially awkward?

• A. If a student does not have age-appropriate pragmatic skills
• B. If they have limited vocabulary
• C. If they mispronounce words
• D. If they use too much slang

Answer: (A)

Understanding how language is used in social situations is key. Pragmatic language skills include taking turns, staying on topic, using greetings, adjusting language for the listener, and reading social cues. When a student does not have age-appropriate pragmatic skills, they may struggle with these social-communication norms. They might interrupt or fail to give others a chance to speak, respond in ways that don’t fit the situation, or miss nonverbal cues, which can make peers perceive them as socially awkward. The other options focus on how words are formed or the specific words used, rather than how language is used in social interactions. Limited vocabulary or mispronunciations can affect clarity, but they don’t automatically create the same pattern of social misfit that comes from pragmatic deficits. Using slang can be appropriate in some contexts, so it doesn’t inherently signal awkwardness in social use.

Understanding how language is used in social situations is key. Pragmatic language skills include taking turns, staying on topic, using greetings, adjusting language for the listener, and reading social cues. When a student does not have age-appropriate pragmatic skills, they may struggle with these social-communication norms. They might interrupt or fail to give others a chance to speak, respond in ways that don’t fit the situation, or miss nonverbal cues, which can make peers perceive them as socially awkward. The other options focus on how words are formed or the specific words used, rather than how language is used in social interactions. Limited vocabulary or mispronunciations can affect clarity, but they don’t automatically create the same pattern of social misfit that comes from pragmatic deficits. Using slang can be appropriate in some contexts, so it doesn’t inherently signal awkwardness in social use.