Learn About Language with the MACAW Lab!
At the MACAW Lab, we love learning about language, and we want to spread the love to parents and families! Stay tuned for fun, educational articles, findings from current research, and a new Word of the Week every Wednesday. We look forward to learning with you!
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Read: What Is Speech Therapy?
Navigating the world of speech therapy can be overwhelming at first for parents and families. This article from Parents is a comprehensive guide to speech therapy. It begins by outlining the basics of what speech therapy is and how it works. It then discusses common reasons one might need it and signs that it may
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Word of the Week: Code-switching
Code-switching means changing how language is used depending on social context. This can mean switching between languages (such as speaking English to an English speaker but German to a German speaker) or mixing languages (such as Spanglish). It can also refer to switching dialect (such as African American English to Standard American English) or changing
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Word of the Week: Crib Talk
Crib talk is when young children talk to themselves before sleep. Starting at around age one-and-a-half, and ending around two-and-a-half, toddlers commonly narrate events, repeat things they have heard, or create imaginary situations. These monologues include elements of conversation and turn-taking. Crib talk is also common in Deaf children, who speak to themselves in signs
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Read: How to Tell if Your Child is a Late Talker
What exactly is a late talker? How can you tell if your child’s language development is on track? What should you do if it’s not, and will they catch up? Some might encourage a “wait-and-see” approach, but this article from the Hanen Centre debunks this and other miscommunications about delayed language development. Based in research,
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Word of the Week: Register
Registers are the stylistic variations of language an individual uses based on circumstance. People tend to adapt their pronunciation, word choice, grammar and/or body language to the different social situations in which they might find themselves. The social occasion, context, purpose, and audience are all important when choosing a register. Choosing a register may be
accessibility bilingualism communication culture development events feeding language late talker linguistics literacy phonetics speech therapy theory verbs
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