Show Me the Bunny: Language Acquisition

Some children are really funny about experimenting with speech. Nonetheless, the first intelligible words bring such a feeling of elation to a parent. Come on, Sweetie. Show Mumma the bunny. Without saying a word, my little girl points to a plush rabbit.

Ever since I read in a parents' newsletter that kids my younger daughter's age should have a vocabulary, I've been trying to persuade her to speak words instead of relying on gesturing, pointing, and high-pitched squealing to make her needs and wants known. While a mild speech delay might be understandable for bilingual babies who are trying to sort out the mechanics of two languages, mine has only one language to learn. Apart from her experiencing frequent ear infections at an early age, I have to wonder, what's up?

Bear. Ball. Blocks. I repeat words to her over and over, thinking that somehow, this might pass on whatever information she needs to be able to form the words herself. Bee. Ba-by. Ga-a-a? She asks, using the same intonation with which I recite the alphabet to her. She spends the rest of the afternoon touching my mouth while I'm talking to her.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, while eighteen months is the age at which a toddler should be able to say her own name, it isn't until early in the second year of life that a toddler will seem to understand what's being said to her, because this is the age at which kids develop language and comprehension skills.

It's a huge leap in a child's development, and will probably alter existing parent?child communication. Now would be a good time to discontinue the kind of language I've grown accustomed to conducting conversations in ("piggies" instead of "toes," "yummies" instead of each meal's correct name).

By the end of her second year, a toddler should have about fifty spoken words, and should begin using two-word sentences. To my dismay, mine only ventures to pronounce a word's second syllable when it sounds exactly like the first; transposes some sounds (cup becomes "pa;" rip becomes "pi"), and approximates others (hello is "ha WOW"). Far from being on her way to constructing two-word sentences, she doesn't try saying her name. Duck. Ga-a. I place her hand on my cheek and try again. Duck. She shortens her ga-a to match the abbreviated sound I'm making. Ga. I'll bet she's a little perfectionist, refusing to say much until she can speak correctly.

I'm afraid if she catches on to my disappointment with her progress, she'll stop trying altogether. So I'm quietly making an appointment for her to see an audiologist. As I wait on hold, I tell myself that this is probably nothing.

copyright little-turnips.com 2003-2005. All rights reserved

---

How Ronzoni Italian Foods Helped My Dad Learn English

My dad likes to say, he was made in Italy, but born in Brooklyn New York. You see his parents left Palermo, Sicily in February 1955 and... Read More

Don?t Take The Romaji Short-Cut When Learning Japanese

This is an issue many Japanese learners come up against, particularly if they live outside Japan. After all, If you are not in the country, it seems... Read More

Second Language Competence Beneficial but often Misunderstood

Second language learning has associated with it many types of benefits. Among them include: social, economic, intellectual and linguistic. Children who engage in second language learning typically... Read More

Preschool Spanish

Why an EarlyAGE 2nd Language?Research indicates that from ages 1 through 8 is the best time to introduce a new language to a child. If the 2nd... Read More

Learning a Foreign Language: Why Should you Learn Words You Never Use in Your Mother Tongue?

Imagine a child sitting in front of a desk, his head in his hands, and mumbling various lists of words over and over. Does this child remind... Read More

What Does an Interpreter Do?

Many people get confused as to the difference between an interpreter and a translator. There is a common tendency to think translators interpreter, or that interpreters translate.... Read More

Learn Korean: Part 2 - Social Status in Culture

Part 1 of this series covered the language and language families in general for the Asian languages. Part 2 will cover the social conduct that is seen... Read More

Learn Italian in Italy

You can combine your love of the Italian language with an unforgettable experience in the country where the language is spoken by studying Italian in Italy! Hands-down,... Read More

Learn Italian for Free

Italian is one of the most widespread languages in the world, and speaking it can give you a tremendous sense of accomplishment, an edge in your career,... Read More

English Slang For Perplexed Tourists

I watched the British version of 'Big Brother' recently. That's the television show which is a human hamster cage. Viewers go 'ooh' and 'aah' over the one... Read More

Japanese Kanji Learning: Short-Cuts to Rapid Mastery (Part 1)

What? Kanji can be learned quickly? This seems an impossible dream to many students of Japanese who come from a non-kanji language culture. Even hiragana and katakana... Read More

Teaching Reading to English Language Learners

There is an increasing amount of English language learners represented in our schools for whom a unique approach to developing literacy is necessary. The development of literacy... Read More

Learn Italian in Your Hometown

Are you interested in learning the Italian language right in your own hometown? There are several options that you can explore to find the Italian classes that... Read More

Show Me the Bunny: Language Acquisition

Some children are really funny about experimenting with speech. Nonetheless, the first intelligible words bring such a feeling of elation to a parent. Come on, Sweetie. Show... Read More

Online IELTS Preparation - Why Does It Make Sense?

Because IELTS is a difficult test. While most agree that IELTS is a reasonable test, it is generally regarded as one of the most challenging tests of... Read More

Learn Korean: Part 1 - Asian Languages and Language Families

So, you have always been fascinated by Asian culture have you? Maybe you are someone who loves the martial arts; kung fu, tae-kwon-do, or karate. Perhaps you... Read More

Can You Understand English?

There is a lot of talk about making English the official language of the USA. That would stop the need to spend so much money printing out... Read More

Japanese Kanji Learning: Short-Cuts to Rapid Mastery (Part 2)

In Japanese Kanji Learning: Short-Cuts to Rapid Mastery Part 1, we looked at mnemonic methods devised by James Heisig and Kenneth Henshall to speed-up kanji acquisition. We... Read More

Learn to Speak Basic Chinese (Mandarin) Words and Phrases

The Chinese Language and dialectsEach province, each city and even each village speaks their own dialect. There are hundreds of Chinese dialects in China so much so... Read More

How To Learn Spanish Quickly and Easily

Spanish is a very useful language to learn as it is the world's second most popular language.Outside of the popular coastal tourist resorts a basic knowledge of... Read More

Uncommon Facts / Rules of English Language

English is an international language. It has so many grammar rules and each rule with many exceptions. Usually, we write English without paying much attention to these... Read More

Whats In A Word? More Than You Realize

What's in a word? Apparently more than we might want.For others, the ability to express yourself in the most meaningful way.I have written articles before on how... Read More

GROUSE ... GROUSE ... GROUSE!!!

I realize that we here in the United States consider ourselves at the top rung of the educational ladder, if only for the fact that so many... Read More

Learning a Foreign Language: Learn from the Blind

In a previous article, you read that to establih your own lists was the best way to learn vocabulary as fast as possible. Let's study what an... Read More

Teaching English in Greece - What Do You Need to Know?

The employment situation can be quite uncertain for newcomers to Greece and therefore many people choose to try teaching English as a foreign language, on a full... Read More

7 Words Americans Should Stop Using Until Further Investigation

Relationship: Here is a word that is used to qualify, justify and honey coat just about every nefarious, sleazy or reprehensible union between almost anybody and anything.... Read More