What is Gestalt Language Development?

Jan 28

Gestalt language development refers to the process by which gestalt language processors acquire and use language—a process that evolves through multiple stages, starting with delayed echolalia and moving toward self-generated language.

In this post, we'll explore what gestalt language development looks like and focus on strategies for supporting children in the early stages of this process.

What is Gestalt Language Development?

Gestalt language processors learn language in chunks, or "gestalts," that are defined by intonation. These chunks are often echoed phrases or scripts they’ve heard, such as lines from favorite shows, songs, or things people around them have said. Here’s a quick overview of the developmental process:

Delayed Echolalia (Stage 1):
Communication begins with gestalts—whole phrases or scripts repeated as they were originally heard. For example, a child might say, “Let’s go outside” not necessarily to mean that they want to go outside; but rather that they want to be finished with an activity, go somewhere else, do something different, etc. In stage one, GLPs’ gestalts are usually not literal and require us to be tuned-in communication partners to understand what they are trying to convey.
Mitigation (Stage 2):
Over time, children start to break down or modify their gestalts. They may mix and match parts of different scripts to create semi-original utterances. For example, a GLP may break down their original gestalt of “Let’s go outside” and add change it to “Let’s go + slide.”
Isolating Words & Combining 2-Words (Stage 3):
After spending time in stage two, GLPs begin to isolate single words from their scripts and use them referentially. For example, they may take "slide" from "Let’s go slide!" to label a slide when they see one on the playground. Within this stage, GLPs will begin to combine two words while referencing things in their environment. These combinations may be noun + noun, adjective + noun, etc. For example, the child might say, “slide + red” to indicate they want to go on the red slide at the playground.
Self-Generated Language (Stage 4-6):
The child begins to take their single words and combine them into their own novel utterances. They will first produce sentences with grammar that may not sound correct; however, as they continue to progress through this stage, they will start to acquire and use more conventional grammatical structures.

While these stages outline the general path of gestalt language development, every child’s journey is different, and it’s important to support them where they are.

Supporting Gestalt Language Processors in the Early Stages

1. Embrace Delayed Echolalia
Recognize that repeated phrases aren’t “just repeating.” Echolalia is your GLP’s way of understanding language and communicating. Acknowledge, honor, and validate all communication attempts.

2. Model Language Meaningfully
Incorporate short, simple phrases into your interactions that the child might find valuable. For example:

"Let’s go!"
"It’s so fun!"
"That’s not right!”

Use these phrases in context, and pair them with gestures, expressions, or actions that make their meaning clear.

3. Avoid Forcing Words
Instead of pushing for single words or correcting how your early GLP communicates, focus on providing rich language models through repetition and play. Let the child naturally progress to the next stage when they are ready.

4. Incorporate a Child-Led Approach
Incorporate favorite songs, characters, etc. into routines and playtime. For example, if your GLP loves a particular show, use lines from it during play or when modeling language throughout your daily routine.

6. Be Patient and Responsive
Remember that language development takes time, and the most important thing we can do is be tuned-in, present communication partners so that we can acknowledge all of the ways our GLP communicates.

The Bigger Picture

While this overview isn’t a deep dive into the stages of gestalt language development, understanding the general process helps us appreciate where a child might be in their journey. By focusing on validating their communication and modeling meaningful language, we can help them build the foundation for self-generated communication in their own time.

The early stages of gestalt language development are about connection, understanding, and celebrating the unique ways our GLPs communicate. With patience and support, we can empower them to thrive on their language journey.