Part 2
Language is expressive. Word selection is used to state ones’ ideas or make requests for something one wants or needs. Language is receptive. It interprets the meaning of what is said and responds accordingly. It has social/cultural contextual rules for grammar and word meanings. One communicates and connects with the exchange of oral language using speech.
The physical development for each toddler is important for their speech development. There are three main components: articulation, voice and fluency. The production of ones’ oral language in any spoken language is a grand coordination of multiple body parts. Here are some of the vital components within the body that work together to create speech.
Brain—The actual size of the brain has increased dramatically! A one year old has 70% of an adult sized brain, compared to a 3 year old having 85%. Before birth neuron connections have been preset or wired for language development. “Brain development builds on itself, as connections eventually link with each other in more complex ways. This enables the child to move and speak and think in more complex ways.”, stated First Things First in a newsletter.
**For further detailed information refer to section Matters of the BRAIN found on this website.
Where is all this happening in the brain? It is a multifaceted process that involves so many moving parts within the brain at such a quick flash of time. The cerebrum holds the key to language in the brain. Many areas within the brain are involved in the whole complicated process: Broca’s area, Wernicke’s area, Arcuate fasciculus, cerebellum, motor cortex and more. Scientists are discovering daily new information on this fascinating function of how the brain develops and comprehends the spoken word.
The brain is the master-mind of it all—the Producer. It does not do it alone, other body parts and senses are called upon to take action by one’s controlling brain. The physical and sensory network actions together are the main players in speech production.
*Physical Body Actions
Lungs, Trachea, Larynx, Vocal Cords—This group of body parts starts off the process. The lungs fill up with air, which is pushed to the trachea. That air now flows through the larynx and rushes over to the vocal cords (sometimes called vocal folds).
Mouth-lips, tongue, teeth, & jaw & nose—This group of body parts uses their fine motor control skills and goes to work in a coordinated way to produce the final speech sounds.
*Sensory Network Integration Actions
While all this is occurring, what else is happening? The sensory integration system jumps into action as well. Dr. A. Jean Ayres who first developed an understanding of this process, defined sensory integration as, “The neurological process that organizes sensation from one’s own body and from the environment and makes it possible to use the body effectively with the environment.” The well-know five senses: vision -sight, auditory-hearing, tactile-touch, gustatory-taste, olfactory-smell all are involved PLUS these three additional important senses:
…Proprioceptive system (external) — position and movement of the body parts outside body
(muscles, joints etc.)
…Interoceptive system (internal) — body awareness –what is happening inside body
(temperature, hunger, etc.)
…Vestibular system (inner ear) — head movements, positions, balance, direction & processes sounds
These senses are always at work—taking in the abundance of input and determining how to organize and respond to it.
Brain—A Multi-tasker!
While sending messages to get the physical speech actions going and processing the data received from sensory integration— the brain is simultaneously exploding with activity. It’s firing more neural networks to hear and understand the words spoken and express a response OR retrieve words and pronounce them in order to communicate their wants, needs, and feelings.
Decisions! Decisions! Decisions!
Speech and Language Together
The brain is faced with numerous decisions, a few examples:
What was just said? What do those words mean?
What is my response? How to begin expressing my thoughts?
How should it be said?
AND MORE!
Word choice, tone of voice, body language (gestures, eye-contact)
All the speech and thought processes or brain crosstalk is happening at the same time. How quick can this take in an adult brain? “600 milliseconds the human brain can think of a word, apply the rules of gramma to it and send it to the mouth to be spoken.” as shared by Andrea Thompson, in a Scientific American article.
A child may initiate a conversation or give back a response to someone when communicating to them but SOUNDS do not necessarily mean understanding. Vocabulary concepts are called upon to make meaning. The brain is a meaning-making machine– all the days of its life. The degree to which the brain interprets a spoken language, practices those sounds and comprehends the word meanings depends on the continual input received. It’s a toddlers own daily life experiences, the continued commitment by their parents to be involved in their vocabulary development that is crucial to their language success.
Please note that if a child does not seem to be progressing regarding their speech development contact a doctor or speech specialist to relieve one’s stress. Children do move at their own pace and there can be varying reasons for their delay.
This post was just a brief overview on the complexity of learning to produce speech to communicate a language. A young child’s whole body is learning every day about workings of language. Building those experiences and providing input to support their growth will be addressed in more detail in future posts. The young Communicator is a true work unfolding before one’s eyes.
Happy days to you,
Kylene
“The expert in anything was once a beginner.”
Helen Hays, American Actress
First Things First, Brain Development, https://files.firstthingsfirst.org/for-parents-and-families/brain-development
I-LABS, (2016), The Amazing Transformation, Module 2, Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences University of Washington, https://modules.ilabs.uw.edu/module/first-2000-days-matter/meet-tomas/
Live Science, (2009), Speed to Thought-To-Speech Traced in the Brain, Andrea Thompson, https://www.livescience.com/5780-speed-thought-speech-traced-brain.html
Max-Planck-Gsellschaft, (2023)), How our brain processes language over time, https://www.mpg.de/21117594/how-our-brain-processes-language-over-time#:
Spielmann, Virginia, MSc OT, PhD(C), Dishlip, Carrie, MS, CCC-SLP, (2020),
20Q: Understanding Sensory Integration and Processing, Kummer, Ann W., PhD, Contributing Editor, https://www.speechpathology.com/articles/understanding-sensory-integration-and-processing-20387
