Speak Baby Speak 1

Speak

baby

Speak

By Moustafa Mohammad Shalabi

(Source: www.youtube.com)

HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD TALK

Language Acquisition

Language is one of the most

distinctive characteristics of human beings.

Language is avital part in our life. We use

language in our everyday activities all the

time we send and receive messages to all

those in our life, around us living with us,

dealing with us, these messages are in the

form of Language. We can call this process

as communicating with our community, it’s

one of the important means to understand

each other. Using language not only give us

the ability to understand one another, but it

helps us to enhance and develop personal

relationships. Through language we speak to

Speak Baby Speak 2

each other if we face a problem and we want

to find a solution to this particular problem

using language, we can propose ideas and

suggest plans to solve. There is no doubt that

language is a fundamental part of our

everyday life activities.

(Source: espanolitablog.com)

In this case we need to ask

ourselves, how did we learn speaking? The

Language speaking process sometimes seems

to be a very complicated process. We may

ask ourselves how someone can know what

he should say to another one in a specific

situation. Mostly language acquisition can be

a misunderstanding term, sometimes you find

it difficult to simplify or even forget. Look at

a word such as GO, when you acquire a

language and have that incredible ability to

use meaningfully then we are the only

creatures who have with scientific evidence

until now, (Saxton, 2010).

Comes to my mind again the

question: Do you still remember your first

word you spoke? Did you ask yourself before

how many words you learn through your life?

Some psychologists say that we learn about

3.500 words by year. Since the beginning of

our birth till to 30. We grow up, grow as

infants lacking language to gossips by a talent

for talk, and scholars are wondering how this

happens. Our brain grows rapidly. A lot of

things happen for instance, that ability to

speak and understand, (Halliday, 1975) .

There are different theories

regarding The language acquisition

according to Psychologists these theories

elaborate the procedure through it we learn

how to speak, write, and otherwise how can

Speak Baby Speak 3

we use symbolic or sign language in

significant means of communication.

Theories of Language Acquisition

Behaviorist Theory

(Source: ged578.pbworks.com)

Behaviorism is a conception

presumes that the apprentice basically

supine, reacting to the environmental

stimulant. The beginner begins as a pure

state (i.e. tubla rasa ) added to that his

performance is molded according to the

positive reinforcement or negative

reinforcement .The positive and negative

reinforcement raise the prospect that the

advanced attitude will occur once more.

When comparing, punishment (both positive

and negative) declines the notion that the

learner attitude will happen more and more.

On the other hand, positive shows the

enforcement of a motivation; negative shows

the concealment of a motivation. Learning

for this reason can be elaborated as a

modification in the learner’s behavior. A lot

of (primary ) behaviorist work was done with

animal (e.g. Pavlov’s dogs) later it was

generalized to human beings, (Pavlov &

Anrep, 2003).

Skinner, claimed that the

development of language acquisition is a

learned behavior. Behaviorists consider

learning as an associating event, identified as

traditional training. He stated that we get

experience via rewarding and punishment,

this is also recognized as operant training. An

additional feature of this theory is that we

learn when we observe and imitate, (Andrea

McKay, 2015). The question now to what

extent do these learning theories apply to

language acquisition? Through frequent

exposition, infants might learn to join an item

with a sound or word refer and point to that

Speak Baby Speak 4

object. As if newborn babbles 'dada,' the

baby is pleased and rewarded through a smile

and his happy parents who get excited in the

same time encourage his/her child's efforts in

communication. The baby might learn

language when he/she observe his parents

and adults surrounding him/her then try to

imitate the sounds he/she hears.

Chomsky added to what extent

behaviorists like Skinner believes regarding

language development. Chomsky thinks that

infants and kids involve in learning language

as rapid as in a way which cannot be simply

explained through the regulations of

behaviorism theory, (Andrea McKay, 2015).

Chomsky, declared the when children learn

language they place words with each other, in

new formed ways, to create a meaningful

phrases never used before. Chomsky claims

that those kids learn the principles and rules

of their mother language and use these words

as he sees it proper, although it seems not

correct from the first time. This is because

those kids may not hear parents and adults

use the language rules so inaccurately,

anyhow Chomsky contributed another theory

on language development.

Innateness Theory

(Source: maritatere.blogspot.com)

Chomsky suggests that babies were

born and they have an innate talent for

language acquisition which is naturally

specified. Back to,(Goodluck, 1991), he

considers language as an essential portion of

man genetics, as a characteristic that

characterize mankind, added to which

language acquisition is an ordinary part of

maturation. Humans have a brain containing

neural circuits which possess inside language

information since his born plus that usual

preparedness to absorb communication

verbally, which is prompted through what

Speak Baby Speak 5

they hear. The infant’s brain in this case is

able to understand what she / he hears

through basics or rules that already contains,

(Linden, 2008). Chomsky stated that we were

prepared biologically to acquire language

nevertheless of regulation since the child

possess the language acquisition device.

(LAD) an area in our brains that makes

learning language a natural event, that is later

used to be an instrument to apply the

instructions of language. He thinks that

entirely most known languages have some

similarity in these mutual values, for

instance, most languages contain nearly the

same sentence structure “verb’, “noun”,

“subject”, “object” and “adjective”, he

claimed that the job of the child focused on

building that particular mean of

communication that she or he perceives to

deliver these fundamental values. For

instance, the “LAD” previously comprises the

notion of “verb”, “tense” and through paying

attention and listens to forms of words such

as "watched" or "kicked". Chomsky's

linguistic theory claims that children all over

the world acquire the language in the same

way, nevertheless where were they born what

culture they have or what language they are

going to learn to speak.

He refers to the notion that Current

research on language pursues to understand

whether or not beings have a critical period

to acquire language. As when we become

older, language acquisition develops more

challenge, particularly for adults whom

intend to learn a new language. Children

learning new languages better than adults

learning new languages, especially when

they learn vocabulary, when they apply

grammar rules, and speak correctly. The

critical period hypothesis elaborates that we

have a time limit to learn new language, when

we get older, language acquisition becomes

much more challenging.

Speak Baby Speak 6

Cognitive Theory

(Source: www.positive-parenting-ally.com)

Language takes place via stable

progressive phases. Kids have schematics

(cognitive structures that contain pre-existing

ideas of the world), that are continuously

changing. Schemata regularly undergo

adaptability, concluded the processes of

assimilation and accommodation, (Piaget,

1971). When children see new things appear

a state of tension, and a child will try to

assimilate the information to see whether it

fits into prior schemata. If this not success,

the information must be accommodated by

either by adding new rules or change existing

ones to accommodate information. The

balance of assimilation and accommodation

usage, equality is formed, decrease cognitive

tension (equilibration).He supposed that

everybody go through a fixed order of four

qualitatively diverse periods. Stability

suggests that one cannot transcend stages or

change them. Even though every ordinary

child goes through the stages precisely in the

same order, there are some differences in the

ages at which children accomplish each

stage.

Sensory-Motor Period

It starts from (0 - 2 years) the Kids

were born with "action schemas" to

"assimilate" ideas about all the surroundings

around him for instance, his desire to get food

or his need to understand. Throughout

sensory-motor time, infants’ language could

be called "egocentric" then children self-

speak or to please himself to associate anyone

who near him using the moment activity.

Pre-Operational Period

It starts from (2 - 7) infant language

achieves a fast growth added to that the

Speak Baby Speak 7

progress in their "intellectual schematic"

allow kids rapidly "accommodate" different

situational words and. infant language turns

to be more "symbolic" permitting them to

speak overcoming the "here and now" and to

express things like the previous events,

forthcoming events and their emotional state.

Egocentrism

This stage Contains "animism" that

point to young kids predisposition toward

thinking of every item, as well as inanimate

things, like human beings. Language is

thought to be as egocentric since children

describe objects simply according to their

perception.

Operational Period

It starts from (7 - 11 years) and (11 -

maturity) Piaget distributes that duration into

two sections: the duration of actual processes

and the duration of proper processes.

Language in that time exposes the growth of

level of thought from young kid to conscious

and from irrational towards rational. They are

likewise have the ability to "de-center" or

observe matters from a viewpoint different

from theirs. Regarding that point toddler

language changes to be "socialized" besides

comprises matters for example: enquiries,

responses, orders and disparagements,

(Evans & Maxwell, 1997).

Social Interactionist Theory

(Source: catalog.flatworldknowledge.com)

This theory suggests the existence of

language used to communicate and it could

be learned in the interaction frame between

small kids and people live with. Vygotsky's

theory combine nurture evidences of the

notion assuming that the environment could

affect infants side by side with the knowledge

input children take from their parents. Mainly

Speak Baby Speak 8

the parents or adults are providing

understandable situations where the child can

absorb his first language ( Mason, 2002,

Doughty & Long, 2008). Even though this

symbolic reaction marks its origins to Max

Weber's emphasis that characters behave

because of personal reaction to meanings

surrounding them in their environment,

(Anderson, M.L. and Taylor, 2009).

(Source: catalog.flatworldknowledge.com)

This theory evaluates society by

dealing with a particular meanings stating

that persons assess an object, event, and

behavior. These particular values get this

importance since the supposition that

persons behavior focused on their

considerations regardless true objectives,

(Cliffs, 2011). According to this, society to

them is considered as socially constructed

through human interpretation. These

clarifications are named as “definition of the

situation”, (Goodluck, 1991).

Approaches to Encourage, associate child

learn and develop language

Parent’s speech supposed to be

sincere and kind all the time .All the time

since the first day must try to comfort their

infants with calm words. They should wait

their infants to participate in dialogue. When

he/she begin babbling, he/she want to tell

them something. This communication of

course, work emotionally to satisfy the

infant. Parents recommended to use

responsive language. They ought to be kind

and patient with infants giving them those

turns in the dialogue. Here are some

strategies that help ,associate child learn and

develop language, (Petersen & Wittmer,

2012).

Speak Baby Speak 9

1. Constructing Relationships—be a

sensitive Language Partner

(Source: www.embracefamilyhealth.com)

When someone take care of another

one this means that he has the wish to contact

him and want to build a relationship with

him. An infant or a small baby/ toddler would

wish also to build this relation with you, I

mean he/she has inner feeling that someone

cares for him and he is safe. Newborns and

kids communicate when they feel it is

enjoyable to them to communicate, when

they have the warm, loving feeling this

influence the means of communication and

this develop their reaction.

2. React and Change Talk Turns— Try

To Be an Interactive Language Partner

During interfaces with your little kid

in this case you are trying to help him to learn

how to use language in order to

communicate. When he /she gives you a

question or request when you answer him he

learns effectively how to communicate to get

what he needs. If your child produces sounds

or uses words, reply him then be patient and

give him his chance to participate with

sounds, words, or sentences. This aid the kids

to understand, learn the conversation

pragmatics—agreeing that you listen I speak

and vice versa to exchange ideas in a social

context. This dialogue builds up your young

kid language as well as his aptitude to go

forward to take language turns—a talent that

aids him to be a chatty mate improving his

talent to communicate. Don’t try to dictate

the dialog to the baby,(Girolametto &

Weitzman, 2002). Through your dialogue try

not to bombarding your child with

vocabulary. As an alternative, concentrate on

Speak Baby Speak 10

mutual and receptive communications with a

balanced and exchange talk roles equally.

3. Pay attention to unspoken language

(Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Sometimes we have to ask ourselves

a question like this (Can newborn babies who

don’t speak try to send you a message?

Absolutely yes, they can. When you see

him/her yawning this might be a sign

indicates that he/she is tired and want to take

some rest or he/she has a boring feeling,

palpation to parent’s body is a sign indicates

the feeling of safe and comfortableness, when

he runs towards you this is an unspoken

message that he/she want to contact you, or

when he is not satisfied or angry he/she kicks

his feet to say “I’m not feeling well”. If the

parents have a high reaction to their kids’

nonverbal communication, sign language at

this stage they give those infants, kids and

toddlers the chance to be a communication

partners. They rapidly use sounds and words,

side by side with nonverbal ways of

communication.

4. Exchanging speaking roles and turns

Self-talk is words parents use to

portray what they are going to do with the kid

or infant. For instance, when mother or father

is going to change the diaper for his baby he

can say, “Baby I got the diaper. Now help me

lift up your feet. Now I’ll put your diaper on.

Ok, finish, everything is Ok” Equivalent talk

happens if parents or adults talk about child

actions. For example, perhaps one of the

parents or one of the adults say while eating,

“Daddy, you’re eating your cake” while

pointing to the cake. A strategy like this can

convert language to an act or object

Speak Baby Speak 11

manipulation, you make a live meaning

words in your child memory.

5. Chat a lot with the kid, Vary your

Vocabulary

(Source: www.dailymail.co.uk)

Talking with your child will make a

big difference, sing, and look with him / her

at picture books. Recent researches

demonstrate that the quality and number of

the conversations that parents have with

infants and kids in a direct influence on the

way of learning talking (Hart & Risley,

1999,Alice S Honig & Brophy, 1996,A S

Honig & Brophy, 1996,Phillips & Shonkoff,

2000). The over-all amount of words besides

diverse vocabulary that fathers use with the

child every day, the quantity of speeches, and

the helpful confirmations from parents have

a positive role of development of

language,(Hart & Risley, 1999).

Scholars claim that they have

explored amazing individual variances in the

quantity of parents’ dialogue with their kids.

Some of them perceive an approximately of

six hundred words in one hour although other

kids receive about two thousand, one hundred

words in one hour. Other kids overhear one

hundred variable words an hour compared to

some who get five hundred different words in

one hour. All mentioned variances regarding

quantity in language which kids hear, create

the distinguishable mark in the development

of their language. The children by age 3 with

loquacious fathers were speaking better with

a lot of words. It is found that they were in

averaging 3 parts as many statements each

hour then 2 times as many words for each

hour than the kids of non-talkative silent

fathers. “The more time that parents spent

talking with their child from day to day, the

more rapidly the child’s vocabulary was

Speak Baby Speak 12

likely to be growing and the higher the child’s

score on an IQ test was likely to be at age 3”,

(Hart & Risley,p.3).

6. Alert your kid attention

(Source: everydaylife.globalpost.com)

In Western cultures, it is remarkable

that adults frequently refer to the persons or

things while conversation while they speak to

little kids, in order to guide their kid’s

attention . . . and in some cases “mothers who

have a young deaf kid normally signal with

her kid if she realize that child could see her

signals and the things concurrently the

mother is speaking about”, (Harris & Mohay,

1997,Teresa M McDevitt, Ormrod, Cupit,

Chandler, & Aloa, 2012).

Young children learn better when

the parents label things or points during

talking about a thing or somebody when the

child focus on it. Shared attention happens if

both parents and the kid are focusing on one

thing together. Parents that refer to or

pointing to an object of the topic discussed or

giving the kid time to look at this object to

speak about it to make sure that the child will

use the proper words to point to the exact

object. That kind of common care improves

language development (Adamson, Bakeman,

& Deckner, 2004).

7. Practice Four “E” Approaches

Encourage your kids to speak

through paying attention and hearing,

replying, avoid adjusting then modifying

their speaking. Expand mutually on the word

meaning “semantics” besides the sentence

structure “syntax” of the words of your kid

then exchange talk turns. Elaborate and give

additional explanation on (make more

complicated) and extend (expanding) the

Speak Baby Speak 13

words, sounds , and sentence—for instance,

try to add different sounds, more new words,

or a little bit longer sentence. Imitate, next

expand the language of the child examples is

the next step in development. The child

listens to your elaboration and he is expected

to start using the recently examples and

language forms.

An extra advantage to use of four Es

is that small kids and little children feel the

positive effectiveness this will lead to more

usage of language in communication.

8. Use Semantically Responsive Talk

(Source: www.claytonearlylearning.org)

If father, mother and adults use

language turns with their toddlers and keep

talking on the same topic, they will find their

children expressively reply better than the

parents’ replies but changing the topic, (

Dunham, & Dunham, 1996). The parents and

adults semantic explanation enhance the

child’s aim to keep speaking on the particular

topic.

9. Use your kid -Directed talk

In case of the little, 13 months old,

Janna was playing gently with her ball,

rolling it and runs after it, only to kick a ball

across the carpet. When ding this she was

looking at her grandfather. Her grandfather

was sitting on the bottom beside her and said,

“Ball, let’s kick the ball.” Little Janna was

smiling as she kicked the ball in her

Grandfather direction. “Ball,” she said

quietly, following her Grandfather’s word.

A lot of fathers, mothers and

grandparents use kids-directed words and

infants such as Janna’s case learn from it.

Parents, adults and teachers in general should

attempt to use simple language to teach their

Speak Baby Speak 14

babies and kids the usage of the language and

involve in extra responsive interactions.

Adults mostly in all cultures use the

same procedures, they are communication

partners and language models for babies and

children. Parents who usually use their

infant-directed words helping them a lot to

practice. There are a lot of suggested

strategies that help to improve and develop

your children language development, parents

are advised to follow.

1. Use responsive words.

2. Shorten sentences and use less words.

3. Make the pitch and intonation voice clear.

4. speak directly to you kid while communicating

5. Make a longer pauses between your words.

6. Repeat words Regularly.

7. Repeat the words. Don’t be afraid to be redundant

8. Lengthen the vowels in words (whaaaat is that?”).

9. Diminutive some words (blanky, piggy)

10. Mark words-nouns and actions-in context.

11. Speak with him about what is happening now.

12. Use frequent separate phrases (“in the car”).

13. Give questions trying to prompt speech.

14. Repeat kid utterances

10. Be Careful When Using Questions and

Control

The questions we often use when

start a conversation with a child, in order to

take a turn conversation, or to get

information. Some of these questions are true

questions these were are asked because we

don’t really know the reply.

Sometimes the questions are used to

test children—for instance; “What is that?”

as we point to a toy on the ground. This kind

of questions are frequently refer to closed

questions because we regularly expect only

one correct answer, for example, “What song

do you like to sing next?” Choice questions

—for instance, “Do you want water or

juice?”—can be considered the best

questions for kids who are getting their

independence from parents, (Katz & Snow,

2000).

Use behavior control cautiously.

Behavior control denotes some statements

that are used by parents, adults or teachers to

prompt a set of participation in a shared

activity. Regular bans from parents, adults or

teachers for instance, “stop that,” “don’t do

that”) cause less child outcomes, (Hart &

Risley, 1992).

11. Listen through Your Eyes

Babies and children—in fact, all

human beings—love to be cared, listened to

with another person’s full interest and

concentration. “Listen with her eyes.” If a

Speak Baby Speak 15

child or family member from a specific

culture believes that it is rude to “look into

your eyes” while talking, he might wish for

you to listen carefully with your ears and

voice, thanking you listening to what he just

said.

12. Read, Sing, Use Finger-Plays and

Social Games

For example, Peek-a-Boo, activities

Full of fun are vital to create an enjoyable

language learning, (D. S. Wittmer, 2006).

References

Adamson, L. B., Bakeman, R., & Deckner,

D. F. (2004). The development of

symbol-infused joint engagement.

Child Development, 1171–1187.

Anderson, M.L. and Taylor, H. F. (2009).

Sociology: The Essentials.

Andrea McKay. (2015).

study.com/academy/what-is-language-

acquisition-theories.

Cliffs. (2011). Three Major Perspectives in

Sociology.

D. S. Wittmer, S. H. P. (2006). Merrill, an

imprint of Pearson Education, p. 183–

187, 189.

Doughty, C. J., & Long, M. H. (2008). The

handbook of second language

acquisition (Vol. 27). John Wiley &

Sons.

Evans, G. W., & Maxwell, L. (1997).

Chronic Noise Exposure and Reading

Deficits The Mediating Effects of

Language Acquisition. Environment

and Behavior, 29(5), 638–656.

Ferrier, S., Dunham, P., & Dunham, F.

(2000). The Confused Robot: Two‐

Year‐Olds’ Responses to Breakdowns

in Conversation. Social Development,

9(3), 337–347.

Girolametto, L., & Weitzman, E. (2002).

Responsiveness of child care providers

in interactions with toddlers and

preschoolers. Language, Speech, and

Hearing Services in Schools, 33(4),

268–281.

Goodluck, H. (1991). Language acquisition:

A linguistic introduction. Basil

Blackwell.

Halliday, M. A. K. (1975). Learning How to

Mean--Explorations in the

Development of Language.

Harris, M., & Mohay, H. (1997). Learning

to look in the right place: A comparison

of attentional behavior in deaf children

with deaf and hearing mothers. Journal

of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education,

2(2), 95–103.

Hart, B., & Risley, T. R. (1992). American

parenting of language-learning

children: Persisting differences in

family-child interactions observed in

natural home environments.

Developmental Psychology, 28(6),

1096.

Speak Baby Speak 16

Hart, B., & Risley, T. R. (1999). The Social

World of Children: Learning To Talk.

ERIC.

Honig, A. S., & Brophy, H. E. (1996).

Talking with your baby: Family as the

first school. Syracuse University Press.

Honig, A. S., & Brophy, H. E. (1996).

Talking with your baby: Family as the

first school. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse

University, 3.

Katz, J. R., & Snow, C. E. (2000). Language

development in early childhood: The

role of social interaction. Infants and

Toddlers in out-of-Home Care, 49–86.

Linden, L. (2008). The basic theories of

language acquisition. GRIN Verlag.

McDevitt, T. M., Ormrod, J. E., Cupit, G.,

Chandler, M., & Aloa, V. (2012). Child

development and education. Pearson

Higher Education AU.

Pavlov, I. P., & Anrep, G. V. (2003).

Conditioned reflexes (Vol. 614).

Courier Corporation.

Petersen, S. H., & Wittmer, D. S. (2012).

Endless opportunities for infant and

toddler curriculum: A relationship-

based approach. Pearson Higher Ed.

Phillips, D. A., & Shonkoff, J. P. (2000).

From Neurons to Neighborhoods:: The

Science of Early Childhood

Development. National Academies

Press.

Piaget, J. (1971). Biology and knowledge:

An essay on the relations between

organic regulations and cognitive

processes.

Saxton, M. (2010). Child language:

Acquisition and development. Sage.

Other Sources

1. http://www.icommunicatetherapy.co

m/child-speech-language/child-

speech-language-

development/activities-strategies-

help-develop-speech-language-skills/

2. http://www.asha.org/public/speech/d

evelopment/Parent-Stim-

Activities.htm

3. http://www.playingwithwords365.co

m/2012/09/your-childs-speech-

language-birth-to-6-months/

4. http://mtbt.fpg.unc.edu/more-baby-

talk/10-ways-promote-language-and-

communication-skills-infants-and-

toddlers

5. http://main.zerotothree.org/site/Page

Server?pagename=ter_par_1224_ind

ex

6. http://lshss.pubs.asha.org/article.aspx

?articleid=1780291&resultclick=1

7. http://study.com/academy/lesson/wh

at-is-language-acquisition-theories-

stages-quiz.html

8. https://sites.google.com/a/sheffield.a

c.uk/all-about-

linguistics/branches/language-

acquisition/what-is-child-lanuage-

acquistion

9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langua

ge_acquisition

10. https://linguistlist.org/ask-ling/lang-

acq.cfm

Speak Baby Speak 17

11. http://www.infoplease.com/encyclop

edia/society/language-

acquisition.html

12. http://grammar.about.com/od/il/g/lan

guageacquisitionterm.htm

13. http://www.psychologistworld.com/c

ognitive/psycho-

linguistics/language-acquisition.php

14. http://www.learning-

theories.com/behaviorism.html

15. https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Psych

olinguistics/Theories_and_Models_o

f_Language_Acquisition#cite_note-

Basic_Theories_of_Language_Acqui

sition-6

16. http://sociology.about.com/od/Sociol

ogical-Theory/a/Symbolic-

Interaction-Theory.htm

17. https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_re

ports/linguistics/learn.jsp

18. http://users.ecs.soton.ac.uk/harnad/P

apers/Py104/pinker.langacq.html

19. https://www.wiziq.com/course/1735

0-teaching-english-to-speakers-of-

other-languages-tesol

20. https://www.youtube.com/watch/Stra

tegies for Encouraging Your Child's

Speech and Language Development

21. https://www.youtube.com/watch/Patr

icia Kuhl: The linguistic genius of

babies

22. https://www.youtube.com/watch/Hel

ping Your Toddler Talk - Language

Development & Delay

23. https://www.youtube.com/watch/Lan

guage Acquisition 1

24. https://www.youtube.com/watch/Lan

guage Acquisition 2

25. https://www.youtube.com/watch/Lan

guage Acquisition 3

26. https://www.youtube.com/watch/Lan

guage Acquisition 4

27. https://www.youtube.com/watch/Lan

guage Acquisition 5

28. https://www.youtube.com/watch/Lan

guage Acquisition 6