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silly language question...do "letter names" count?

*Bre**Bre* member
in Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months

My S is kind of on the verge of his word explosion, it seems...he's started learning his letters and can say H, M, B,D,T,S,Z,P,C,E,I,J,G,U and can recognize many more but can't say them, soooo do I count the ones he can say as whole words? :)  I mean...animal sounds count, right?

 He's 22 months, if that matters.... he says a few other words as well and is picking up more every day. 

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Re: silly language question...do "letter names" count?

  • susanmosleysusanmosley member

    If he is labeling them without your verbal model, then they are words.  Any sound combination used consistently to represent a specific thing is a word. 

    Seeing a "T" and calling it /ti/ (or even an approximation) is the same as seeing a cat and labeling it, you know?

    It's an interesting question though, you know?  Because I guess typically letters aren't the first "words" but no reason why they can't count! =) 

     

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  • *Bre**Bre* member
    imagesusanmosley:

    If he is labeling them without your verbal model, then they are words.  Any sound combination used consistently to represent a specific thing is a word. 

    Seeing a "T" and calling it /ti/ (or even an approximation) is the same as seeing a cat and labeling it, you know?

    It's an interesting question though, you know?  Because I guess typically letters aren't the first "words" but no reason why they can't count! =) 

     

    I agree with you, he sees signs on the street and calls them whatever they are. I have taught him some letters their "sounds" instead of their "names" like I say /mmmmmm/ instead of "em" and I say /h/ instead of "eytch" I'm coming at it from a linguist's perspective (you are an SLP yes?) and I think people in *my* field would consider those words, but I dont' know if it is clinically counted because I don't typically deal with it in that sense. Its been torture having a child that doesn't start *really* talking until 22 months, as a linguist :P  Needless to say, I'm thrilled and relieved, that he's finally starting to say things.

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  • susanmosleysusanmosley member
    image*Bre*:
    imagesusanmosley:

    If he is labeling them without your verbal model, then they are words.  Any sound combination used consistently to represent a specific thing is a word. 

    Seeing a "T" and calling it /ti/ (or even an approximation) is the same as seeing a cat and labeling it, you know?

    It's an interesting question though, you know?  Because I guess typically letters aren't the first "words" but no reason why they can't count! =) 

     

    I agree with you, he sees signs on the street and calls them whatever they are. I have taught him some letters their "sounds" instead of their "names" like I say /mmmmmm/ instead of "em" and I say /h/ instead of "eytch" I'm coming at it from a linguist's perspective (you are an SLP yes?) and I think people in *my* field would consider those words, but I dont' know if it is clinically counted because I don't typically deal with it in that sense. Its been torture having a child that doesn't start *really* talking until 22 months, as a linguist :P  Needless to say, I'm thrilled and relieved, that he's finally starting to say things.

    I don't have an advanced talker either and as a SLP it was starting to drive me crazy!! I felt like I should quit my job! 

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  • *Bre**Bre* member
    imagesusanmosley:

    I don't have an advanced talker either and as a SLP it was starting to drive me crazy!! I felt like I should quit my job! 

    i know! my students are like "so does your kid speak like 4 languages and stuff?" and I say...."um welll we're still working on english lol" 

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  • 22laura22laura member

    I agree with what you both said (I'm an SLP too). I Just wanted to remind you (I know you already know) that there is a HUGE range of normal! Especially at this age.

    I'm sure both of your kids have insanely high receptive language! ;)

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  • *Bre**Bre* member
    image22laura:

    I agree with what you both said (I'm an SLP too). I Just wanted to remind you (I know you already know) that there is a HUGE range of normal! Especially at this age.

    I'm sure both of your kids have insanely high receptive language! ;)

    I like to think this too :)  he knows a lot more than he lets on. That's what has kept me from freaking out. 

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  • susanmosleysusanmosley member
    image*Bre*:
    image22laura:

    I agree with what you both said (I'm an SLP too). I Just wanted to remind you (I know you already know) that there is a HUGE range of normal! Especially at this age.

    I'm sure both of your kids have insanely high receptive language! ;)

    I like to think this too :)  he knows a lot more than he lets on. That's what has kept me from freaking out. 

    LOL.  Me too.  And I am banking on her social-emotional development and problem solving skills!

    Her speech is really not good! Language is coming along but MAN no one understands her but me! 

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