LAD - S9 Language Facilitating Strats

hat is Infant Directed Speech (IDS)?

A special speech register adults use with infants

What are the prosodic features of Infant Directed Speech?

Reduced rate (slower speed)

What are the lexical features of Infant Directed Speech?

Increased iconicity (sound‑symbolic words like “choo‑choo”)

What are the sentence features of Infant Directed Speech?

Simple sentences and short utterances (typically one to four words).

What is iconicity in Infant Directed Speech?

The use of words where the sound suggests the meaning (e.g.

What does the research by Ota et al. (2018) say about reduplications and diminutives?

Even though words like “choo‑choo” may seem superfluous

What is the first step in “Let the child lead

then follow”?

Why is getting face to face important?

Infants naturally look at faces only a small percentage of the time (Franchak et al.

What does OWL stand for in language facilitation?

Observe

Describe the “Observe” component of OWL.

Take time to watch the child’s body language

Describe the “Wait” component of OWL.

Stop talking

Why is waiting important in language facilitation?

It signals to the child that the adult is ready for them to respond or take the lead. It allows processing time and creates space for the child’s initiation.

Describe the “Listen” component of OWL.

Pay close attention to all the child’s words and sounds. Do not interrupt even if you know what the child wants to say. Let the child know that what they say is important.

What should you do if you really don’t understand what the child is trying to say?

Avoid dismissing the message. Show effort and interest to understand

How can you create opportunities for the child to lead?

Place a favorite object out of reach

What are examples of creating opportunities for a child to make a request?

Place a favorite toy out of reach and wait; offer a small portion and wait; choose an activity the child cannot do without you and wait; offer a choice and wait; pause a familiar activity and wait.

What are examples of creating opportunities for a child to comment or ask a question?

Change a familiar activity

What is the rule of thumb when the child produces a reaction?

Respond immediately. Immediate responsiveness reinforces the child’s communication attempt.

How do you “Join in and play” effectively?

Play like a child – don’t insist on playing the “right way.” Use Infant Directed Speech

What are three ways to follow with your actions and words after OWL?

Imitate (copy actions and sounds)

How can you keep an interaction going once it has started?

Use the best cue: WAIT. Use facial expressions and body language to cue the child. If the child doesn’t respond

What should you avoid instead of saying “say apple

say orange…”?

How can you encourage a child to say a target word naturally?

Repeat the word in meaningful contexts; use fill‑in‑the‑blank phrases (e.g.

What kind of questions tend to be conversation stoppers?

Yes/no questions

How can you change a closed question into a conversation promoter?

Turn “Do you want milk?” into “You want milk or water?” (choice question). Turn “What is this?” into a comment like “Look

Why is the 3:1 comment‑to‑question ratio recommended?

Too many questions can make the child feel tested and shut down conversation. Comments provide rich language models without demanding a response and keep interaction natural.

Give an example of turning a question into a comment.

Instead of “Is that a dog?” say “Look at the doggie!” and wait. Instead of “Do you like that juice?” say “Mmm! That’s yummy juice!” and wait.

What is Modeling in the context of language facilitation?

Showing examples of what can be said in the here‑and‑now. The model should match the child’s language ability so it is easy to imitate and understand.

What is Expanding?

Adding one new element to the child’s utterance. This can be adding a new word (e.g.

What is Shaping?

Gently guiding the child’s utterance toward accuracy by providing a correct model without direct correction. For example

Why is direct correction (“You’re wrong

say it like this”) discouraged in shaping?

What is the overall goal of the strategies in Lecture 9?

To create a supportive