Communication Functions: All the reasons we communicate

6 minute read

There are many reasons to communicate. We call these communication functions. When we are aware of communication functions, we can use words that build language and meaningful communication. This way, we expand an AAC user’s world beyond choice-making.

People who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) instead of talking, need language, like everyone else. Language is about words and sentences, and is used to speak, listen, read and write.

We need language so we can communicate for a wide variety of reasons. We call these reasons communication functions. They are the different reasons that we communicate every day with the world around us.

AAC should give communicators words to say what they think, ask for things, tell stories and jokes, ask questions, and share what they know.

Modeling communication functions

To learn the language needed to communicate for different reasons, AAC learners need to see others use it. As we talk to them, we model by pointing to words on the user’s AAC system. We model during day-to-day interactions. And just like we model to teach words, we also can model examples of different communication functions. We can show how we communicate different messages for different reasons, using the AAC.

Beyond requesting

Most often, AAC is used for only one communication function—requesting. AAC users can get really good at asking for things. They can make requests for food, favorite shows, places to go, YouTube videos, etc. Making requests is motivating for AAC users. It may be one of the first reasons they use their AAC.

Find a full list of communication functions in the AssistiveWare Core Word Classroom.

Illustration with three people each holding a sign with a symbol on it

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Think about why we want to communicate. This helps us to decide what words may need to be taught and modeled.

Plan for different communication functions

It can be very useful to think about communication functions as we plan goals and activities for AAC users. Think about why we want to communicate. This helps us decide what words may need to be taught and modeled.

Choose which communication functions to teach. The tables below give examples of different types. Which of these is your AAC user already using? Which do you want to teach next?

Communication functions in Proloquo and Proloquo2Go

This table includes words to model with core and fringe word based vocabularies that you can find in apps such as Proloquo or Proloquo2Go.

Communication Function	Core words to model	Core words with fringe to model
Request	want, want that, want different, want more, I want	Want play, I want to watch TV
Protest	not, not that, stop	Not red Stop that music
Comment	look, look that, see, see them	I see car That girl looks pretty
Direct	get, get it, give me, put in, put it in, give me that	Do more swinging Give me my cup please
Ask questions	what? what that? where? where go? who? who go?	When are we going to shopping? Where is David? Who is going to the party?
Give opinions	like, I like that not like, I don’t like it good, bad, that good, that bad	Like chocolate Mondays are bad
Share news	I go, I see, I eat I went, I saw, I ate	I see Dad I went to the park
Start a conversation	what? what do? I like that, what you like? I go there, where you go?	I go beach, you go? I like the movies, what do you like?

Please note: You might point to just some of the key words in these examples. However, you can also say the whole sentence as you model. For example: Say “You need to put your hat on", while pointing to “put” and “on”.

For more ideas, we recommend visiting the AssistiveWare Core Word Classroom. There, you will find many planner documents. These planners cover many everyday activities and core words. They give examples for ways to use different communication functions in the activities you are already doing.

Communication functions in simPODD

This table includes words to model with branch starters and expanded words with PODD, using the simPODD system.

Communication Function	Branch starter to model	Expand to finish message
Request	I want (to do an activity)	break, play, outside activities, eat or drink, swim, TV, music, dolls, toy cars, blocks
	Do something (actions)	come, make, get, go, give, see, do
	Let’s go	for a drive, home, places in the community (select specific place), somewhere in the house or yard (select specific place)
	I have an idea (I’d like to)	select from categories: places, actions, activities, special events, characters, things
Protest	Something’s wrong	hurts, uncomfortable, unfair, angry, hungry, thirsty
Comment	I like this	awesome, cool, exciting, fun, nice
	I don’t like this	boring, noisy, scary, yucky, bad
Direct	Do something (actions)	see, look, go, get, give, make, take, don’t
Ask questions	I’m asking a question	who, what, where, when, why, how
Give opinions	I like this	awesome, cool, exciting, fun, nice
	I don’t like this	boring, noisy, scary, yucky, bad
Share news	I want to show you something	make/made, get, (its in) my bag, (its in) somewhere in the house, go to categories for specific place, people, things.
	I’m telling you something	Its time to, its already happened, Go to categories to select specific people, places, activities
Start a conversation	Chat words	excuse, please, stop/wait, thank you, hurry up, help, look
	I have an idea	select from categories: characters, people, places, activities, days and times
	Let’s pretend	select from categories: characters, people, places, activities, days and times
	I’m telling a story (not real)	its already happened, its going to happen, its about now, its time to; go to categories: places, people, days and times, feelings, descriptions
	I’m telling you something	its already happened, its going to happen, its about now, its time to; go to categories: places, people, days and times, feelings, descriptions

Start using different communication functions

Thinking about the different communication functions is a great way to plan AAC goals and to target words to model.

Follow the links below for more strategies to get started communicating:

Download the printable Communication functions poster

Links & References

American Speech and Hearing Association. Language in Brief. [Article]
AssistiveWare. Stalled at choice-making and requesting. [Article]
AssistiveWare Core Word Classroom. List of Communication Functions. [Link to website]
Langley, Rachael. (2018). Building AAC awareness: Using AAC to express a range of functions. [Blog post]
Sheldon, Erin & Barthère, Magali. What is PODD?. [Blog post]
Wetherby, A. & Prizant, B. (1989). The expression of communicative intent: Assessment issues. Seminars in Speech and Language, 10, 77-91.