The NLA International Handout: English

Language Development

language development processes

Analytic Language Development

Analytic language development was recognized through research in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. It has come to be known as ‘typical language development.’
Meaning is first derived from single words. Single words are the first ‘units of meaning’ (A. Peters, 1983/2021).
Language develops from single words to two-word combinations.
Language then develops into phrases and sentences.
Sentences include more complex grammar.

Citations:

The Units of Language Acquisition- Ann Peters 1983, 2021; https://communicationdevelopmentcenter.com/Language Acquisition and Communicative Behavior in Autism: Toward an Understanding of the ‘Whole’ of It-Barry Prizant, 1983; https://barryprizant.com/

Gestalt Language Development

Gestalt language development was recognized through research in the 1970s and 1980s (B. Prizant, 1983; A. Peters, 1983/2021).
It has often been referred to as ‘echolalia,’ i.e., language chunks that are heard, stored, and used later.
Meaning is first derived from language ‘chunks’ (gestalts).*
Language gestalts can be of any length; each is a ‘unit of meaning’ (A. Peters, 1983/2021).
Language develops from whole chunks to smaller chunks (mitigated gestalts).
Language then develops from small chunks to single words and two-word combinations. Language naturally develops into phrases and sentences.
Sentences include more complex grammar.

Citations:

Finding the Words: To Tell The Whole Story- Marge Blanc 2005;

https://communicationdevelopmentcenter.com/

Natural Language Acquisition on the Autism Spectrum: The Journey from Echolalia to Self-Generated Language- Marge Blanc 2012

natural language acquisition

Gestalt language development was recognized through research in the 1970s and 1980s (B. Prizant, 1983; A. Peters, 1983/2021).
It has often been referred to as ‘echolalia,’ i.e., language chunks that are heard, stored, and used later.
Meaning is first derived from language ‘chunks’ (gestalts).*
Language gestalts can be of any length; each is a ‘unit of meaning’ (A. Peters, 1983/2021).
Language develops from whole chunks to smaller chunks (mitigated gestalts).
Language then develops from small chunks to single words and two-word combinations. Language naturally develops into phrases and sentences.
Sentences include more complex grammar.

Gestalts

Gestalt language development was recognized through research in the 1970s and 1980s (B. Prizant, 1983; A. Peters, 1983/2021).
It has often been referred to as ‘echolalia,’ i.e., language chunks that are heard, stored, and used later.
Meaning is first derived from language ‘chunks’ (gestalts).*
Language gestalts can be of any length; each is a ‘unit of meaning’ (A. Peters, 1983/2021).
Language develops from whole chunks to smaller chunks (mitigated gestalts).
Language then develops from small chunks to single words and two-word combinations. Language naturally develops into phrases and sentences.
Sentences include more complex grammar.

Citations:

Finding the Words: To Tell The Whole Story- Marge Blanc 2005;

https://communicationdevelopmentcenter.com/

Natural Language Acquisition on the Autism Spectrum: The Journey from Echolalia to Self-Generated Language- Marge Blanc 2012

NLA Stages

Stage

Examples

Description

Stage 1: Gestalts

Language heard in one situation and used in another. This language can be songs, sentences, scripts, or parts of media.

Stage 1: Gestalts Example

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZnowIkno wmyabcsnexttimewontyousingwithme
Ifyourehappyandyouknowit Happybirthdaytoyou
——
(a) Let’s get out of here!
(b) Want some more?

Stage 1: Description

Language gestalts are part of the experiences of life. These could be lived experiences or those enjoyed via media. They carry personal meaning, often emotional, and should not be interpreted literally.

Stage 2: Mitigated Gestalts

Language from Stage 1 is broken down into smaller parts, which are then combined in new ways.

Stage 2: Example

ABCD + to you

You’re happy + with me LMNOP + you know it —

——

(a) Let’s get + out of here! Want + some more?

(b) Let’s get + some more? Want + out of here!

Stage 2: Description

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZnowIkno wmyabcsnexttimewontyousingwithme
Ifyourehappyandyouknowit Happybirthdaytoyou
——
(a) Let’s get out of here!
(b) Want some more?

Stage 3: Isolation & Combination of Single Words

Mitigations are further broken down into single words that are combined without grammar.

Stage 3: Example

(a) Get…more!

(b) Want…out?

——

Ball + red, Blue + ball, Table + chair, Up + ball, Red + blue, Table + under, Here + there, Mom+ home, Home + me, Me + Mom, Outside +tree, Tree + leaf, Rock + mud, Water + duck, Fast + car, I + fast, It + good, I + OK, OK + you?

Stage 3: Description

‘Get…more!‘ and ‘Want…out?‘ demonstrate emergence into Stage 3.

——

Stage 3 presents the opportunity to increase single word vocabulary and explore two-word combinations of nouns, attributes, and locations.

Stage 4: Self-generated phrases and simple sentences

Self-genThe child is experimenting with meaningful word combinations and emerging grammar.

Stage 4: Example

Get up, Mom.
Mommy, need up.
Got milk snack?
I play friends now!
All my friends are playing outside!
We need milk and cookies for our snack.

Stage 4: Description

Early phrase types and combinations.
Emerging grammar.
All basic grammatical structures
(pronouns, verbs, conjunction ‘and’).

Stage 5: Self-generated sentences used in everyday situations

The child is adding more advanced grammar to their basic sentences.

Stage 5: Example

Can you help me with my homework?
Why doesn’t this work?
I want to go outside because my friends are waiting.

Stage 5: Description

All basic conjunctions.
More advanced verb tenses.
More advanced sentence structures.

Stage 6: Self-generated sentences used in more complex situations

The older child is using sophisticated grammar correctly.

Stage 6: Example

I have to finish early but I don’t want to
make any mistakes.
If I can’t find the answer, do you think we
could google it?
Before we make a decision, we should
review what the teacher was asking for.

Stage 6: Description

All advanced verb tenses, conjunctions, and clauses needed to participate in a growing number of academic situations.

Resources:

Links to NLA book and NLA courses: http://www.communicationdevelopmentcenter.com
New Jersey Autism Center of Excellence webinars on NLA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwzkwkyjSLY
ASHA description of echolalia: https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/autism/echolalia-and-its-role-in-gestalt-language-acquisition/
Natural Language Acquisition Study Groups on FaceBook
Natural Language Acquisition: A Guide To Gestalt Language Processing by Marge Blanc, 2022

Supporting Natural language development At ANY stage

Take the time to see what the child is doing: Watch and listen; provide plenty of silence

Comment on what you and the child are doing

Follow the child’s lead in play and interests (all are opportunities to learn and grow)

Consider co-regulation always

Honor the child’s play by
joining in or
‘parallel-playing’

Treat every interaction as an equal opportunity for language development

Earn the child’s trust and focus on your connection. Only then does your language matter

Understand that
language development ‘in
context’ is already
‘generalized’

Keep your connection with the child–it’s a privilege

Remember that every child’s play is

different and legitimate

Think about the variety of functions the child is communicating

Use the child’s language and support it becoming more flexible

Pay attention to each expressed thought, discover the meaning and honour the communicative intention

Respond to the child’s own language

Provide language models that the child can use later without changing them

Allow the child to make new language
‘their own’

Treat all communication types as valid (gestures, AAC, singing, signing, intonation, etc.)

Gestalt thinkers process life experiences as gestalts

Adopt a flexible
and supportive communication
style

Add personal language to robust AAC systems

Communication Development Center

Communication Development Center

Language Development

language development processes

Analytic Language Development

Gestalt Language Development

natural language acquisition

Gestalts

NLA Stages

Stage

Examples

Description

Stage 1: Gestalts

Stage 1: Gestalts Example

Stage 1: Description

Stage 2: Mitigated Gestalts

Stage 2: Example

Stage 2: Description

Stage 3: Isolation & Combination of Single Words

Stage 3: Example

Stage 3: Description

Stage 4: Self-generated phrases and simple sentences

Stage 4: Example

Stage 4: Description

Stage 5: Self-generated sentences used in everyday situations

Stage 5: Example

Stage 5: Description

Stage 6: Self-generated sentences used in more complex situations

Stage 6: Example

Stage 6: Description

Supporting Natural language development At ANY stage

Natural Language Acquisition on the Autism Spectrum:

NLA Level Courses

NLA Level Courses

NLA Level Courses