Language Development

Language is a complex communication system which enables interaction between people.

Language consists of:

Receptive language, which refers to our ability to understand what other people say to us. Our receptive language develops slightly ahead of our expressive language.

Expressive language is the language we use to communicate our thoughts and ideas to others. Expressive language can be both verbal and non-verbal.

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Infants language developmentAge Response Description

Neonate Crying Starts to produce different cries for different needs

3 months Cooing Short repetitive sounds such as “ooh”

6 months Babbling Repetitive sounds that use consonants such as “bababa”

9 months Recognises some words (objects and people)

Will look towards objects or people when named, or may point

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Infants language development

Age Response Description

10 months Expressive jargon Seems like “pretend” speech

12 months and on First words

Holophrases

Mummy, Daddy …

One word which expresses a whole sentence

18 months Extends vocabulary includes some mispronunciations

“Nana” for banana

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Supporting infants language development

Frequently hold infant and make eye contact

Listen and respond to conversational turn taking

Imitate cooing sounds

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%27+language+development

Talk in an expressive voice about what you are doing and what you both can see

Use short sentences and exaggerated intonation patterns

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Supporting infants language development

Use lullabies, gentle body and tickling games, nursery rhymes and books to stimulate interest and vocalisations

Position babies near the “action” when awake

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Supporting toddlers’ language development

Continue to use songs, action rhymes, books and fingerplays and games. Use songs from a variety of cultures and languages.

Talk with toddlers about things and events in their immediate environment

Combine speech and gestures to help toddlers understand meanings

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q=toddlers%27+language+development

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Supporting toddlers’ language development

Avoid correcting speech, but model correct word forms and sentence structures.

Use routines to stimulate and explore language

Provide a language rich environment, ensuring toddlers are exposed to written as well as oral language, including shared reading experiences

Provide toddlers with the opportunities to express themselves through drawing and painting

http://www.google.com.au/imgres?q=language+rich+environments

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Language development in the Preschool Years

Preschoolers:

Communicate effectively with adults and other children

May use over-regularisations or over-generalisations

Use “collective monologues” where they take turns in conversations but may each have their own topic

Talk about what they want to do, who will do what and what will happen next

May use “private speech”

Will listen and respond to extended stories

http://www.google.com.au/imgres?q=language+rich+environments+in+preschool

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Language development in the Preschool Years

Preschoolers:

Vocabulary increases at a rapid rate (doubles every six months)

Sometime make up their own words or use words creatively – for example “hopicopper”

Enjoy the sounds of words and love chants and rhymes that involve repetition of words that rhyme

May stutter as their thoughts may come more quickly than their words

Become interested in printhttp://www.google.com.au/imgres?q=preschoolers+and+nursery+rhymes

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Individual differences in language development

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Genetic differencesHearing abilityGenderBirth orderType of attachment relationshipPersonalityAmount of language interaction with other peopleQuality of language interactionsCaregiver’s language styleAppropriate expansion of child’s language by

caregiver10

Supporting School Aged Children’s Language Development

Ensure they hear language used in different types of ways – for discussion, singing, poetry, drama etc.

Ensure they have plenty of opportunities to read and write language (stories, poems, letters, scripts of plays etc)

Set up group activities toencourage conversations(games and puzzles)

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Supporting School Aged Children’s Language Development

Listen to and value what children say

Be a good language model

Provide opportunities for children to explain, describe and tell stories by asking open-ended questions

Give children space and privacy to talk amongst themselves

Offer items of individual interest to read

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