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
MORE RESOURCES:
 KARE | Univision and Disney in Talks for an English-Language News Channel New York Times (blog) By BRIAN STELTER and AMY CHOZICK The Walt Disney Company may join Univision, the dominant Spanish-language broadcaster in the United States, in starting an English-language cable news channel this year, people with knowledge of the talks between the ... Disney's ABC, Univision Mull News-Channel Launch Disney, Univision may launch English-language cable news channel Walt Disney, Univision Said to Discuss English-Language Cable News Channel |
English language learner program costs skyrocket in some districts, data show DesMoinesRegister.com Indian Hills Junior High student Meko Mandein works during an English as a Second Language class Friday in West Des Moines. / Bryon Houlgrave/The Register The cost of teaching non-English-speaking students is rising dramatically in some Iowa schools, ... Blaine County Schools See Spike in English Learners Mercer County ELL program Subject of Settlement |
Language needs could mean more aid Sioux Falls Argus Leader Peggy Gibson spoke about Huron's influx of Burmese refugees, many of whom lack literacy even in their own language. “So they take more work, more dollars,” she said. Huron Superintendent Terry Nebelsick said 524 of his district's 2215 student (24 ... |
A look at Colorado ahead of Tuesday's caucuses Washington Post ... 2.7 percent Asian LANGUAGE: Language other than English spoken at home: 16.8 percent EDUCATION: High school graduate or higher: 89.3 percent Bachelor's degree or higher: 35.9 percent MONEY: Median household income: $56456 Families below the poverty ... |
 Independent Online | Make it about language not immigration reform Mid Columbia Tri City Herald A Republican senator from Vancouver made a run at making English the state's official language. Sen. Don Benton's bill didn't make it out of committee but it made for some interesting debate. Does Washington need an official language? Languages Bill discriminates against Afrikaans - Afrikanerbond South African pupils prefer English over own tongues African languages for schools |
Language instruction system 'intuitive' Windsor Star Those are the components of a new system of language instruction being created by semi-retired University of Windsor linguistics professor Antoine Khoury. Khoury said the new method is the result of research done over more than 30 years teaching ... |
NIDES offering new on-line adult language program Canada.com By Lise Broadley, Comox Valley Echo February 7, 2012 North Island Distance Education School (NIDES) is offering a new interactive program to help teens and adults learn a new language. TOTALe is an enhanced version of the Rosetta Stone, ... Rosetta Stone partnership offers new languages to students |
Let FindTheBest Help You Choose the Best Language Learning Program MarketWatch (press release) Finding the Right Language Learning Software can be Difficult, but FindTheBest's Language Learning Program Comparison can Help. SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- There are many variables to consider before choosing a ... |
Java tops C in language popularity assessment -- but not by much Network World By Paul Krill, InfoWorld Java is barely hanging on to its ranking as the most popular programming language, edging out C in this month's Tiobe index of programming language popularity. Released on Sunday, the February Tiobe Community Programming Index ... |
 CBS Local | Lawmaker Wants English To Be Official Language Of Anne Arundel County CBS Local ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) — English may soon be the official language in Anne Arundel County. The controversial legislation was proposed Monday night. Meghan McCorkell has more on the impact it could have. Supporters say this is a way to send a ... Councilman wants to make English Arundel's official language Councilman plans to introduce bill to make English official language of Anne ... |
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 or part-time basis. It can bring in a good income whether it is your preferred career choice, or you wish to do it short-term until another career choice pans out.
English Language Sputtering Online Like an Old Ford!
Sad, but true. Just about everywhere you look online, the English language is suffering a fate worse than death.
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 that each dialect speaker is not likely to understand another dialect speaker from another village or city.
Learning French in Paris
Nothing can be more frustrating than to be in France and not been able to speak their language. For, I remember the days when I was among people chanting around in a language totally alien to me, and me, trying to bring a smile in my face while shaking my head from north to south doing as if I am getting everything what they are speaking about, and waiting impatiently for my French wife to do the translation - and I can't deny, that that was not the most comfortable period of my life.
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 things like drivers license, tax, voter registration and other official forms in so many languages.
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 difficult to justify the huge amount of time that learning Japanese characters seems to require.
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 saw how their techniques activate the imagination by assigning different meanings individual elements of each kanji.
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 are interested in the cool oriental stores and like to buy many things from them to decorate your house.
Uncommon Facts / Rules of English Language
English is an international language. It has so many grammar rules and each rule with many exceptions.
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.
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 sailed by boat to America.
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 by English language learners (ELLs) includes all of the challenges implicit for English speaking children literacy attainments, and is additionally compounded by a diversity of linguistic, cognitive and academic variables.
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, and even a stronger bond with your ancestors if you are of Italian descent. There are many ways you can learn Italian, including textbooks, tapes, CDs, software, group classes or private lessons, but there are also ways you can begin or continue your studies of the Italian language entirely for FREE!1.
Learning a Foreign Language: the Ventriloquists Lesson
The main feature you have to master, in order to call yourself a ventriloquist, is to speak without moving your lips. It is not that difficult.
Aphasia: The Cruelest Language Barrier
Imagine the following scenario: You wake up one morning and instead of speaking English, everyone around you--including your family and friends--is speaking Hungarian. This is a problem because you don't speak Hungarian and you don't have a clue what they're saying.
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 foreign language students are breaking their necks to come here to both study and live English.But, on second glance, we should not deceive ourselves.
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. Recently on an edition of the Jerry Springer show a guest was about to be interviewed who was getting it on with a very close relative.
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.
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 are just perfect for you! First, you should consider whether you would you enjoy the interaction that takes place among students in group classes, or if you would prefer the one-on-one attention of a private instructor.1.
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.