By Ms Merlin M Thomas, Speech and Swallowing Therapist, Vellore

Did You Know That Children Develop Language in Different Ways?

The two main styles of language acquisition are known as analytic and gestalt. Understanding how a child is building language helps parents better interpret what their child is trying to express. It also guides parents in choosing the most effective ways to nurture their child’s communication skills. Most importantly, recognizing a child’s language style can help determine whether he or she may benefit from speech therapy.

The Two Models of Language Development

Analytic and gestalt are two different ways children process and acquire language. A child who processes language analytically focuses first on learning individual words and their meanings. Over time, the child begins using those words in various situations and gradually combines them to form phrases and sentences.

In contrast, some children begin language development by memorizing entire phrases — this is known as Gestalt Language Acquisition. Later, they gradually break those phrases apart to understand the meanings of the individual words within them. Echolalia is frequently observed in children with Autism, however it is also seen in children who are not on the autism spectrum.

Here’s an example: In your child’s favourite TV show, the main character often says, “let’s go everybody!” before heading outside. Your toddler may start using that same phrase when leaving the house or walking out of a store. Your child may not yet understand each word in the sentence, but has learned the phrase as one complete unit.

Analytic Language Processing (Traditional)

The child first learns individual words as separate units (e.g. “go”). Language development progresses toward combining words into phrases and sentences (e.g. “I want to go” or “go in”). You can think of analytic language processing as developing from parts to whole.

Gestalt Language Processing (GLP)

Begins with the child repeating phrases previously heard (delayed echolalia). The child gradually separates the phrase into smaller parts as they begin understanding the meaning of each word. Those individual words are later used to create new, original phrases and sentences for communication. Gestalt language processing moves from whole to parts.

What Is Echolalia?

For example, if a child says, “do you want a snack?” to indicate that they are hungry, they may be repeating a phrase they have previously heard. Instead of constructing “I want a snack,” they use the memorized sentence as a single chunk. This is an example of delayed echolalia, which is a feature of gestalt language processing. There are two types of echolalia — immediate and delayed echolalia.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is commonly associated with echolalia and gestalt language processing.

Tips for Supporting Your Child

  • Remember that the phrase may carry meaningful intent. For example, if a child says “do you want water?”, it could be their way of expressing “I want water.”
  • Repeating a question might be a way of communicating “yes.” If you ask “do you want to play bubbles?” and your child repeats “want to play bubbles?”, that may indicate agreement.
  • Support the child in understanding individual word meanings within echolalic phrases. Use visual cues, such as pointing to or showing your child their shoes while saying “let’s put on your shoes!”

Children who depend on echolalia and Gestalt Language Processing (GLP) may sometimes find it challenging to communicate effectively with others. If you have concerns about your child’s language development, consider seeking an evaluation from a Speech-Language Pathologist.