W7 - Expressive Language

Question 1

What is expressive language?

Answer 1

Expression or expressive language is the use of utterances (spoken sentences) to convey meaning and to connect to a listener socially. This is achieved by combining words into phrases and sentences. The utterance is then turned into speech sounds which is the way the message is transmitted to the listener. Alternatively, another medium might be used such as written language or signs for a sign language user

• Afasic.

Question 2

What difficulties may those with expressive language have with the development of vocabulary?

Answer 2

• Limited or immature vocabulary
• Slow acquisition of vocabulary
• Reduced range of lexical categories (types of words)
• May have periods of fluency but still restricted in the contents of talk
• Increased use of empty language
• WFD
• Circumlocution
• Poor concept development
• Affected access to the National Curriculum

Question 3

What difficulties may those with expressive language have with the development of syntax?

Answer 3

• Telegrammatic utterances (SWL or short utterances, minimal amount of words used)
• Reduced MLU (lack of vocab means child doesn’t have the words needed)
• Simplistic sentence structures
• Limited range of utterance types
• Difficulties with word order
• Difficulties with verb acquistion impacts syntax and sematic relations expressed in sentences

Question 4

What difficulties may those with expressive language have with the development of morphology?

Answer 4

• Difficulty acquiring morphological markers
• Omission of plural markers (-s suffix)
• Omission of possessive morphemes
• Omission of present progressive (-ing suffix)
• Omission of 3rd person marker (-ed suffix)

Misuse/omission of irregular plurals

• Misuse/omission of past tense
• Omission of conjunctions
• Confusion of determiners, prepositions, and singular/plural forms