Gestalt Language Processing vs. Analytic Language Processing
Most neurotypical children develop language through Analytic Language Processing. Children with autism acquire language through Gestalt Language Processing. It’s not wrong, it’s different! It’s important to know the differences so we can better understand children with autism and provide the best treatment. If a child with autism is treated as if he/she is a “disordered analytic processor,” he or she may get stuck in one of the stages. It’s important to provide different treatment for different language development. Below, I have shared the stages of Analytic Language Processing compared to Gestalt Language Processing.
Analytic Language Processing
The more common way to develop language.
“Word babies" - Children tune into single words. The basic units of language are words.
Stage 1: Use of single words. Typically begins ~12 months of age.
“Mommy”
“Doggie”
Stage 2: Use of two word combinations.
“Mommy go”
“Doggie run”
“More milk”
Stage 3: Use of emerging grammar in first phrases.
“Mommy go bye-bye”
“Me fell down”
Stage 4: Use of first sentences.
“The ball on the book.”
“The doggie chews it.”
Stage 5: Use of more complex sentences/grammar.
“Are they swimming?”
“We’re hiding.”
Gestalt Language Processing
"Intonation babies" - You can hear the melody of language. Basic units of language are "chunks" of language.
Stage 1: Echolalia, the repetition of others’ utterances.
Echolalia may be immediate or repeated after a significant delay. Typically begins after the age of ~2.5.
“Let’s get out of here.”
“Want some more?”
Stage 2: Mitigated Gestalts.
Breaking apart language chunks and communicating more flexibly with smaller chunks
Use of partial gestalts
“Let’s get” + “some more”= “Let’s get some more!”
“Want” + “out of here”= “Want out of here.”
Stage 3: Isolating single words and combinations.
(1)“Let’s get” + “wanna get”= “get”
Use of single words that have been isolated “Some more” + “No more”= “more” from mitigated phrases
(2) “Get more!” and “More get!”
Stages 4-6: Beginning grammar, more complex sentences.
Use of original sentences “I wanna get some more toys.”
Beginning grammar “Him gots toy.”
Advanced grammar “He's got lots of toys and books.”
Sources:
Blanc, M. (2012). Natural Language Acquisition on the Autism Spectrum: The Journey from Echolalia to Self-Generated Language. Communication Development Center.
