Language Development
Language Development
DEVELOPMENT
What Is Language?
A socially shared code to express thoughts and concepts
Language is a law of grammar and semantic that
makes conversation more meaningful.
Covers ways of communication where thoughts and emotions
are being expressed in order to convey message/meaning to
others
Is Language Development Important?
Body Gestures
Facial expressions convey message of emotions
Becoming a communicator
Infant & adult follow each others gaze
This will speed up language development
Simple infant game pat-a- cake/ peekaboo demonstrate
conventional turn taking.
At the end of the first year infants use preverbal gestures to
influence the behavior of others.
Linguistic speech : Early Language Development
First word: One-word utterance - (18-24 mths)
Limited in both vowels & consonant single word (BALL, DAD, HIT.)
Children first words usually refer to important people, objects that
move, familiar actions or outcomes of familiar actions.
Emotions also influence early word learning.
Two-word Utterance phase and telegraphic speech (24-30 mths)
Simple sentence (BAD DOG, Want food, Me hungry).
Young toddlers add words to their vocabularies slowly (1-3 words a
month) but after this stage a spurt of vocabularies occurs10-20 new
words a week.
Telegraphic speech occurs where in the 2 words utterance phase
toddlers will leave out smaller and less important words.
The physical development & connection of the sound of language.
Basic adult sentence structure (above 30 mths) building sentence
presence of grammatical and functional structure, and continuing
vocabulary acquisition.
Linguistic Components
Children learn about the aim and how certain words and
sentences are being used in a conversation use language
efficiently in social context.
Pragmatics the practical knowledge of how to use language to
communicate.
Social speech
Speech intended to be understood by a listener
Private Speech
Talking aloud to oneself with no intent to communicate with
others
Normal and common in childhood
LANGUAGE
DEVELOPMENTAL
MILESTONE
Influences on Language Development
Maturation of the Brain: Cortical regions associated with
language do not fully mature until late preschool years or
later
Brocas area, located in the frontal lobe, controls
language production.
Wernickes area, located in the temporal lobe, controls
language comprehension.
6 Months
Babbling begins
Some consonant sounds can be heard
Vocalization with intonation
Responds to his name
Responds to human voices without visual cues by turning
his head and eyes
Responds appropriately to friendly and angry tones
12 Months
Uses one or more words with meaning (this may be a
fragment of a word)
First word approximations (e.g. dada for daddy)
Non-verbal communication
Jargon (i.e. unintelligible speech) still present
Understands simple instructions, especially if vocal or
physical cues are given
Is aware of the social value of speech
18 Months
Has vocabulary of approximately 5-20 words
Vocabulary made up chiefly of nouns
Some echolalia (repeating a word or phrase over and
over)
Much jargon with emotional content
Is able to follow simple commands
24 Months
40-50 words at 24 months
Can name a number of objects common to his surroundings
Is able to use at least two prepositions, usually chosen from the
following: in, on, under
Combines words into a short sentence-largely noun-verb
combinations (mean) length of sentences is given as 1.2 words
Volume and pitch of voice not yet well-controlled
Can use two pronouns correctly: I, me, you, although me and I are
often confused
My and mine are beginning to emerge
Responds to such commands as "show me your eyes (nose,
mouth, hair)"
36 Months
Use pronouns I, you, me correctly
Is using some plurals and past tenses
Knows at least three prepositions, usually in, on, under
Knows chief parts of body and should be able to indicate these if not
name
Handles three word sentences easily
Has in the neighborhood of 900-1000 words
Verbs begin to predominate
Understands most simple questions dealing with his environment and
activities
Relates his experiences so that they can be followed with reason
Able to reason out such questions as "what must you do when you are
sleepy, hungry, cool, or thirsty?
48 Months
Knows names of familiar animals
Can use at least four prepositions or can demonstrate his
understanding of their meaning when given commands
Names common objects in picture books or magazines
Knows one or more colors
Can repeat 4 digits when they are given slowly
Can usually repeat words of four syllables
Demonstrates understanding of over and under
Has most vowels and diphthongs and the consonants p, b, m, w, n
well established
Extensive verbalization as he carries out activities
Understands such concepts as longer, larger, when a contrast is
presented
Readily follows simple commands even thought the stimulus
objects are not in sight
Much repetition of words, phrases, syllables, and even sounds
60 Months
Can use many descriptive words spontaneously-both adjectives
and adverbs
Knows common opposites: big-little, hard-soft, heave-light, etc
Has number concepts of 4 or more
Can count to ten
Should be able to repeat sentences as long as nine words
Should be able to define common objects in terms of use (hat,
shoe, chair)
Should be able to follow three commands given without
interruptions
Should have simple time concepts: morning, afternoon, night, day,
later, after, while, tomorrow, yesterday, today
Should be using fairly long sentences and should use some
compound and some complex sentences
Speech on the whole should be grammatically correct
LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
IN MIDDLE CHILDHOOD
Language Development in Middle childhood
Vocabulary, Grammar, and Syntax
As vocabulary grows during the school years, children use
increasingly precise verbs to describe an action, i.e.
hitting, slapping
Pragmatics: Knowledge about Communication
Practical use of language to communicate including
conversational and narrative skills
Language Development Theory
Food Talk
Encourage children to talk during eating and meal preparation
Have your child tell you whats needed for lunch. Model words
he/she doesnt know.
Have your child explain the steps for making a sandwich.
Have your child help you write a grocery list. Have him/her
name the things in the flyer.