Category: Word of the Week
-
Word of the Week: Sign Languages
Sign languages are languages that use gestures, hand movements, and facial expressions instead of spoken words. They are true languages, more organized and complex than body language or baby signs, complete with their own grammatical structures. Because sign languages do not use sounds like oral languages, aspects like emotion and emphasis are added with the…
-
Word of the Week: Telegraphic speech
Telegraphic speech is a way of speaking that does not include grammatical morphemes. Grammatical morphemes are the small units of language that add meaning to words and sentences, like the past tense marker -ed, the plural -s, or prepositions like in and on. An example of a telegraphic utterance would be “Mommy feed baby” to…
-
Word of the Week: International Phonetic Alphabet
The International Phonetic Alphabet, or IPA, is a phonetic notation system of standardized speech sounds. It is used to transcribe the pronunciation of spoken words. The symbols that make up IPA represent every existing sound in all oral language. It was developed in 1886 and is occasionally updated by the International Phonetic Association. One aim…
-
Word of the Week: Theory of Mind
Theory of mind is the ability to interpret the mental states of others, such as beliefs, desires, and emotions. Theory of mind allows a person to understand others’ thoughts and intentions as well as explain and predict others’ behavior. It also allows a person to understand that someone may hold different beliefs than their own.…
-
Word of the Week: The Five Domains of Language
The domains of language are the broad ways to analyze language. The five domains are phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. The domains can be understood as lenses through which we can study language, with each one contributing something different. When put together, they form our complex and ever-changing language system. Phonology is the study…
-
Word of the Week: Receptive and Expressive Language
Receptive and expressive language are the language we understand and the language we use. Though they are different skill sets, they work in tandem, and effective communication is dependent on both. Receptive language refers to input: it is the ability to understand spoken or written language. Following directions, answering questions, and reading comprehension are all examples…
-
Word of the Week: Lingua Franca
A lingua franca is a common language used between people that do not have the same native language. It can also be used to describe a mixture of languages where words from multiple languages are combined. A lingua franca is often used between people that oversee trade, facilitate business, or communicate information academically, scientifically, or…
-
Word of the Week: Semantic Network
Words do not exist independently in our minds—they connect to other words in meaningful ways. In linguistics, a semantic network is a map of how words relate to each other conceptually. This network has points and lines that connect these points. The points are words, and the lines show how any given word meaning relates…
-
Word of the Week: Phonemic Narrowing
Phonemic narrowing is the process by which infants gather information about the sounds of the language they are exposed to. Every language has unique sounds and patterns of sounds. At about six months, infants begin learning these sounds and patterns, as well as the rules for these sounds. This knowledge is a very important step…
-
Word of the Week: Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Augmentative and alternative communication, or AAC, are the ways people can communicate without talking. People of all ages who have difficulty with speech or language use AAC, and it can be used short-term or long-term. There are many diverse AAC methods. Low- and no-tech options include sign language, gestures, facial expressions, communication boards, writing, drawing…
MACAW Lab 