Assessing the Pragmatic Abilities of Algerian Autistic Teenagers

This study aims to investigate the pragmatic language abilities of seven Algerian Autistic Teenagers from Oran, Algeria. The study uses a mixed-method approach, relying on thematic analysis to study the data. Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by difficulties with social interaction, and repetitive, rigid behaviors. Pragmatic ability, a leading element of social interaction, is known to be impaired in autism, causing the autistic individual to experience difficulty with understanding language in social contexts. Several assessment methods have been developed to measure pragmatic competence in ASD, testing different aspects of pragmatic ability to provide a clinical profile for the autistic person, including standardized evaluation tests. A pragmatic assessment test, which takes into consideration the landmark concepts of pragmatic ability, and which was based on George Yule’s reintroduction of pragmatic concepts, was developed and used for this specific study. Ultimately, the pragmatic language of the participants of the study, as evident through the findings, was characterized by five major themes: Reference and Inference, Logical Entailment, Politeness and Social Understanding, Discourse Comprehension, and Relationship with General Meaning. The themes indicated a variety in pragmatic skills and capabilities within the sample, and showed that autistic individuals exhibit diverse pragmatic profiles, challenging the notion of a uniform pragmatic ability across the spectrum.