What is Language?

Language can be divided into two categories:

Receptive Language is the information that is inputted into your brain and then processed. Information is derived through our five senses externally (our surrounding environment) and internally (our body’s environment). That information is then put through processing by the various parts of the brain responsible for the memorization, management and understanding of the information. The various systems responsible for handing the information each have their own complex tasks.

Expressive language is language that can be produced by spoken, articulated sounds originating from the vocal tract or symbolic system which includes sign language and written language. However, as Augmentative and Alternative Communication providers, I will also include under symbolic language, pictures. Expressive language is composed of words that are made from consonants and vowels using tone periodically to express meaning. The production differs depending on the system, but all systems mentioned use phonemes (the smallest meaningful production of words) as the foundation to higher expressive developmental skills.

Language can be broken down into parts. The parts of language are

1.Semantics- words and word meaning

2. Syntax- the arrangement of words into phrases and sentences

2a. Morphology- composed of morphemes (the smallest word parts of meaning) and are combined to produce meaning. There are free (does not need a root word, i.e. a, the) and bound morphemes (do need a root word, i.e. -ing).

3. Pragmatics- the social use of language

Each one of these parts are complex which takes a trained speech language therapist to navigate.

Language begins at birth and develops over time as the child grows. Many children go through this process seamlessly; however, not all children develop at the same rate. There are developmental milestones in speaking and language.