LAD - S1 Intro

Communication definition (Owens 2019)

A collaborative process of exchanging information; ideas; needs; and desires between a sender and receiver; both parties must be aware of each other's informational needs.

Language broad definition (colloquial)

In the context of acquisition and disorders this often colloquially means talking or the integrated use of the system.

Language narrow definition (technical)

The internal; rule-governed cognitive system in the brain encompassing form; content; and use (phonology; morphology; syntax; semantics; pragmatics).

Speech definition

The precise; coordinated motor act of producing the sounds of language using the lungs; larynx; and articulators; the physical output channel for spoken language.

Relationship among communication language and speech (hierarchy)

Communication is the broad social purpose; language is the symbolic tool; speech is one output channel for oral language.

Example of communication without language

A baby crying to express discomfort; the caregiver interprets the cry as communicative but the infant is not yet using symbolic language.

Example of language without speech

Sign language (e.g. American Sign Language or Hong Kong Sign Language) uses the same linguistic system but a different modality.

Process of talking (four steps)

1. Idea/Communication intention (cognition); 2. Language formulation (brain's language centers); 3. Motor execution (speech mechanism); 4. Acoustic signal.

Language disorder definition

A significant impairment in the comprehension and/or use of a spoken; written; or other symbol system; breakdown in the brain's language processor.

Case study 1: 5-year-old girl cannot produce the s sound

This is primarily a speech disorder (articulation disorder); her language system is intact; she knows the word but cannot produce the sound.

Case study 2: 75-year-old man cannot comprehend spoken language

This is a language disorder (receptive aphasia likely Wernicke's aphasia); his hearing is intact but his language comprehension system is damaged.

Case study 3: 3-year-old boy shows little interest in social interaction

This is a communication disorder (social-pragmatic; characteristic of Autism Spectrum Disorder); his difficulty is at the level of social engagement not language or speech per se.

Four reasons a child might not talk (Slide 30)

1. Doesn't know what communication is; 2. Doesn't know how to use verbal language; 3. Doesn't have motor skills to speak; 4. Other psychological; behavioral; or environmental reasons.

Misconception Language = Talking

This is false because language can exist without speech (sign language); speech can be intact but language disordered (Wernicke's aphasia); communication can occur without either (gestures; cries).

Why distinguishing communication language and speech matters

A child who isn't talking could have a problem at any level; diagnosis determines intervention (e.g. speech therapy vs language therapy vs social skills training).

Documentary Babies First Words (assigned viewing)

Serves as a longitudinal observational case study of typical language acquisition; students observe prelinguistic skills and first word emergence.

Instructor credentials (Rita Kou CCC-SLP PhD)

Dual training in clinical speech-language pathology (MS CCC-SLP) and theoretical linguistics (PhD); embodies the course's integration of typical science and clinical application.