Grammar Mistakes in Stage 4 of NLA

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A post shared by Halle Demchuk, MSc(A), SLP (@haepislp)

I LOVE Stage 4 of the Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) framework for gestalt language processors, because for the first time, kids are now *self-generating* their own grammar and are no longer scripting adult language. However, this means they WILL be making mistakes as they learn, and will sound "younger" than when they were scripting adult language models. Instead of focusing on correcting errors, we want to celebrate the new grammar concepts they are gaining such as:

• using pronouns
• different verb tenses (e.g., past vs present)
• using articles and modifiers

When we hear grammar errors, we don't need to worry about correcting! We can just validate what the child said and recast back with the correct grammar, without explicitly correcting.

Playing with language is just that - play!

by Halle Demchuk, SLP

Paediatric SLP | GLP-Trained Clinician | Owner of HAEPI SLP