The Two Ways Children Develop Language, And How to Support Them
Did you know there are actually two different ways children develop language? Most people are familiar with only one - Analytic Language Processing (ALP). This is the ‘traditional’, commonly known way we expect children to learn to talk. They start with babbling, then move onto single words, then two word combinations, phrases, sentences and eventually conversation. ​​
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But there’s another, equally natural way - Gestalt Language Processing (GLP). Instead of learning language from the bottom up, gestalt language processors acquire language in larger chunks of echoed language, often repeating phrases that have come from people, movies, TV shows and videos. This is known as delayed echolalia, and these repeated scripts (or ‘gestalts’) carry meaning for the child. You might hear your child repeating phrases they’ve learned from a video, such as “D is for dog” or “To infinity, and beyond!” before using single words, such as “Mum” or “Dad”.
Both ALP and GLP arrive at the same destination - meaningful, flexible and original language. However, GLP children often require different support to reach that point. Unfortunately, their unique way of developing language is often misunderstood. Many well-meaning parents, educators and speech pathologists may assume that repeated phrases are meaningless mimicry that should be ignored, or may provide traditional ALP-focused language strategies. With this, GLPs may struggle to progress. In contrast, when we embrace their natural language development style and support them with appropriate GLP strategies, they thrive.
What if I’m unsure if my child is ALP or GLP?
Language development exists on a continuum- some children are fully ALP or GLP, while others fall somewhere in between. The good news? GLP language strategies benefit all language learners. Therefore, the natural language modelling without expectation that we use with GLPs will also support ALPs.
How to Support a Gestalt Language Processor:
If you think your child is a GLP, here are some ways you can help them develop language:
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Move away from focussing on single word modelling - this works well for ALPs but isn’t the best approach for GLPs.
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Acknowledge your child’s gestalts - respond with a smile, nod, or a simple “yeah” or “okay”.
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Try to understand the meaning behind their phrases - keep track of what they say and in what context. Remember, all gestalts have meaning.
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Model new and useful phrases naturally without expectation for the child to repeat it. For example, “time to eat”, “let’s get our shoes”, “we’re finished”, “it’s really fun”.
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Engage in child-led play - model language in a way that feels natural and fun.
When to seek help?
If your child is a GLP and is struggling to move beyond scripted language, a speech pathologist can provide the guidance and support needed to help them develop their language.
Sophie / Speech Pathologist (CPSP)