Preschool Language Development Flashcards
Semantic/Concept Organisation
New words are stored and linked to other words by semantic features/concepts
Relational Terms x 3
Words that can only be understood in relation to other words.
Compare/contrast/relate entities to each other.
Abstract= no meaning on their own.
Adjectives
Must be linked to a noun.
Can change meaning according to what they relate to.
Compare and Contrast Age
Children begin to compare (same, different) items at 18 months but do not use words to describe this yet.
Concept Words: Concepts
x10
Spatial/Location
Directional
Numerical
Ordinal
Shapes
Measurement
Comparative
Temporal
Categorical
Descriptive
Concept Word Milestones Example
1-2 years
2-3 years
3-4 years
4-5 years
1-2
up, down, another, in, on
2-3
big, little, one, many, off, out of, away, same/not same, soon, later, wait
3-4
colour, both, same, different, a lot, empty, around, behind, beside, in front of, next to
4-5
small, smaller, smallest, first, last, then, next, near, through, yesterday, today, tomorrow, last week, days of week
Measurement Terms Progression x 9
Big+Little
Hard+Soft
Heavy+Light
Tall/Long + Short
Large+Small
High+Low
Thick+Thin
Wide+Narrow
Deep+Shallow
Temporal (time) Terms Progression
x 4
Order of Mention (before temporal words are learned)
Words for Order:
before/after
Words for Simultaneous:
while, at the same time
Words for Duration:
since, until
Colour Terms Progression
2yrs
2.2-2.5yrs
2.5-3yrs
Approx 2yrs:
Recognise colour names but not the meaning.
Approx 2.2-2.5yrs:
understand meaning of colours
Approx 2.5-3yrs:
Match objects based on colour
Spatial/Location Terms Progression
Comprehend: 1st, 2nd
2yrs, 3yrs, 3.5yrs, 4yrs, 5yrs+
Generally Understand
1st: supporting terms
(in a box, on a table)
2nd: proximity terms
(next to the chair, by the door)
2yrs- in, on, up, down, off
3yrs- under
3.5yrs- next to
4yrs- behind, beside, above, in front of, below, at the bottom etc.
5yrs+- left, right
Kinship Terms Progression
Understanding Terms:
3-4yrs: 1st, 2nd
Relational Terms By Complexity:
4-6yrs
School Age
3-4 yrs.
1st: Person’s Name: Mum, Dad, Nana
2nd: Definition hypothesis (not relational understanding: Nana means old lady
Relational Understanding by simple complexity:
4-6yrs.
Mum (female + parent), brother (male, sibling).
School age:
Uncle (male+parent+sibling), cousin (parent+sibling+child)
Deictic Terms + Phases 1-3
Personal, Spatial, Temporal Terms
that do not make sense on their own, require context of the speaker, listener, place, topic.
eg. I, you, we, here, now, yesterday, last night, over there
Phases:
1.
here/there+this/that (no distinction between these words)
- this/here correct (consolidation of that/there)
- correct use of terms.
Responses to Interrogatives
Early 2yrs
Middle 2yrs
3yrs+
(Early 2yrs) 27-28months:
what+where
(Middle 2yrs) 28-32months:
who+whose+which
(3yrs) 35-47months:
when
how
why (hard)
Preschooler Speech Function Additions x11
Requesting content info
Responding to requests
Give descriptions
Express facts and feelings
Describe events and stories
Tell plans
Describe past experiences
Complaints
Criticisms
Annoying
Threatening
Directives/Request Typesx2
Direct:
asking for what they want, possibly including manners
Indirect:
hinting at what they want
Directives/Requests Progression
(I want something!)
2yrs
3yrs
4yrs
5yrs
2yrs:
attention words (Hey! Milk Mummy!)
3yrs:
possible politeness with prompting, or in certain situations, for certain people (Please, can I ….)
Modal auxiliaries (Can I/may I)
Begin indirect form
4yrs:
Some skill for indirect form (still rare)
Increase in politeness
Some justification for requests.
5yrs:
Increased justification for requests.
Developing skills in gaining attention, giving instruction, stating their goal, awareness of social rules, persuasion etc.
Conversational Skill Learning x 6
Initiate
Turn take
Repair
Change Topics
Presupposition
Closure
Play Schemas and Registers
A set scene that allows exploration of language, roles etc.
Register: voice change, characterisation to experiment with language choices, pragmatics.
Requires understanding of others, planning, explaining, referential terms, ordering events, making up dialogue.
Factors Affecting Preschool Vocabulary Development
Individual x 2
Contextual:
Home x3
School x2
Individual Factors:
memory, conceptual understanding
Contextual Factors:
Home:
quantity, variety, richness
School:
peer/teacher interactions, exposure to reading/media
