LANGUAGE IS CAUGHT AND NOT TAUGHT

LANGUAGE IS CAUGHT AND NOT TAUGHT

Language is a self expression

Language is a self dialogue

Language cannot be a symbol of one’s intelligence

There is obviously two modes of language – receptive , expressive

Oh no there are two more – body language and para language

Language is a tool that helps us to communicate with others

Other tools are our eyes , hands , facial gestures , grimace , grunts that also aids the communication with others

More tools in line is our pitch , tone , speed , posture while expressing our thoughts. These form part of  what I mentioned before -body language and paralanguage

As said , there is receptive and expressive language .

This is where the vocabulary bank comes into action

This is where exactly narrative descriptions comes into play

We often confuse speech , language and communication

But let’s be clear,  communication is the notebook,  speech is the pencil and language is  sharpener

So when you opt to develop language and speech in your child , you should actually incline yourself to develop the opportunities to communicate

Communication includes expressing likes , dislikes , needs , feelings , emotions, thoughts and ideas rather than labelling A is for apple or brinjal is of purple color

When you begin to develop communication , your most important strategy to achieve success is “ Role modelling”

Now what role modelling should include in building expressive language skills to strengthen communication

Well expressive language should not be limited to requesting only for e.g “I want icecream”

Expressive language should include

1.Commenting , for e,g “ wow , this is fun”

2. Suggesting for e.g , “let’s go , let’s open it

3. Protesting for e.g , “ stop it , go away “
4. Sensory motor experiences , “ its too loud , it feels good , I love jumping “
5. Common practice messages. For e.g more , “I am ready , are you hungry ?, I am busy, I am late “

6. Transition messages , for e.g , “what next , time for dinner , clean up time”

7. Asking for help for e.g , “ I need help , I don’t understand. Can you help? “

8. Feelings for e.g , “I am bored , I am upset , I am scared”

It is good to role model and use these phrases repeatedly and in context  to situations to help child catch and generalise language and have coomunication

It is important to know children with ASD , Fragile X and late language emergent see language differently.

They would grasp language as strings , chunks or sounds rather than a single words that’s why they have tendency of echolalia

Communication development goals should use echolalia as a learning objective rather than another concern to intervene

Once the child can learn and understand and begin comprehending these acquired chunks and strings of words for e,g “this was fun”, “ go away “

You can then step by step go to encourage child to channelize these words into proper syntax and functional language

Lastly I want to shout out on repeat mode

“ Language can  be caught and not taught”

Language , expression and communication should be dealt as a incidental , associative and experiential learning

I hope this was wonderful to read and lovely to acquire a new understanding about language skills

Creative Effort and Social Communication Stimulator – Heena Sahi