What is Gestalt Language Learning?
Gestalt Language Learning, also known as Gestalt Language Processing (GLP), is a pattern of learning language where children acquire language in chunks or ‘gestalts’. Children start by repeating language verbatim that they have heard elsewhere. Once they have a large repertoire of gestalts, they learn to break them down into smaller units of meaning which can be mixed and matched and eventually used to create self-generated language.
The Stages of Gestalt Language Learning
Gestalt language learners follow predictable stages in their language development. Dr Barry Prizant originally published these stages in his research in 19831 which was later framed as Natural Language Acquisition in Marge Blanc’s 2012 book.
There are six stages of gestalt language learning and children may demonstrate communication patters from more than one stage at a time.
Stage 1: Delayed Echolalia
At this stage children speak in scripts that they have copied from other people. Children’s scripts are frequently linked to times when they were feeling big emotions and many children derive scripts from TV shows and movies.
Example: “To infinity and beyond!”
Stage 2: Mix and Match or Trimming Down
At stage 2 children are starting to break down their gestalts which may involve mixing and matching two gestalts or trimming down one gestalt to a shorter unit of language.
Example of Mixing and Matching: ‘To infinity and beyond’ + ‘Reach for the sky’ = “To infinity and the sky.”
Example of Trimming Down: “To infinity.”
Stage 3: Single Words and Two-Word Combinations
Children at stage 3 are starting to break gestalts down into single words and make some two-word combinations (usually nouns). It may sound like a child’s language development is going backwards when they are in stage 3 because they are now using smaller units of language and grammar is often incorrect; however, this is the stage where gestalt language learners start to use self-generated language.
Example: “Sky” (single noun), “Big sky” (adjective + noun = self-generated combination)
Stage 4: New Original Phrases with Beginning Grammar
At stage 4, children are putting together single words to create original language, they are in the early stages of learning the grammatical rules of speech.
Example: “Me flied to the sky”
Stages 5 & 6: More Advanced and Complex Grammar
At these later stages children continue to generate original language and their grammatical system starts to sound like the adult model.
Example: “We flew to the sky.”
For information about how to support gestalt language learners, see our previous post, Tips for Supporting Gestalt Language Learners, and if you have questions about children’s language development or speech and language therapy with South Lakes Speech & Language Therapy, please get in touch. Follow us on Facebook for more speech, language and feeding tips and sign up for South Lakes Speech & Language Therapy’s newsletter if you would like new posts sent directly to your inbox.