What is Gestalt Language Processing?

What is Gestalt Language Processing?

Gestalt language processing is a form of language development that involves processing language in chunks (gestalts). In the early stages of language development, gestalt language processors communicate primarily through delayed echolalia. This is often referred to as "scripting". A gestalt, is essentially a "script", or piece of delayed echolalia, with a deeper meaning or emotions attached. Gestalt language processors (GLPs) use gestalts (scripts) to communicate! 

For example, a gestalt language processor might use the gestalt: "you splash it, you buy it!" from Disney's Elemental, to express anger or frustration towards someone else. This gestalt, or piece of delayed echolalia, serves a deeper meaning for them than might appear at surface level. This is the power of gestalts!

Gestalt Language vs. Analytic Language Processing

Analytic language processing involves seeing isolated words as single units, and combining them to create word+word generated units of language and eventually grammar. 

Analytic language processors (ALPs), unlike GLPs, don't start with gestalts or "chunks" of language. They start with single words. Early on in their language development, they see these single words as building blocks for language. They see these isolated words as referential, typically using language to reference (label items), and form semantic relationships. ALPs begin to combine these isolated words to create grammar early in childhood (usually around age 2). Gestalt language processors may produce single words, but they don't see single words as building blocks to create novel phrases until far later in their language development process.

Let's look at this comparison of gestalt vs. analytic language:

While most people understand analytic language development and see it as "typical", gestalt language development is not atypical or disordered. It is actually quite common. Many autistic people are gestalt language processors, and many need assistance (speech/language therapy) to move past the early stages of this language development. However, many NON-autistic (allistic) kids and people are also gestalt language processors, too!  

The process of gestalt language development is described through Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) stages (Blanc, 2012). 

"Speech-language pathologist, Marge Blanc coined the term "Natural Language Acquisition" when she published her book by the same title in 2012. The NLA framework guides our therapy as speech-language pathologists working with GLPs.  Research from Prizant et al, Dr. Ann Peters and Marge's 20 years of clinical longitudinal research are in the book. Marge's book is also very parent friendly and teaches parents how to model language for their kids at home".

"Two Types of Language Development.” Meaningful Speech - Echolalia Education - Gestalt Language Processing, 6 July 2022, www.meaningfulspeech.com/blog/twotypesoflanguagedevelopment.

You can find her book HERE and her website HERE.

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Let's take a look at a summary of the NLA stages:

NLA Stage 1 - communicative gestalts

For example: "let's go outside!", "the itsy bitsy spider...", "it's soooo big"

These "gestalts" can be as short as a single word or as long as an entire song or movie. But remember - a gestalt is a piece of delayed echolalia. So it is a chunk of language that is repeated just as it was originally heard.

NLA Stage 2 - mitigated (mixed and matched) gestalts

For example: "let's go inside", "the itsy bitsy baby...", "it's soooo small".

If you compare these examples to the stage 1 examples above, you can see slight changes to the original, stage 1 gestalts. This is what happens in stage 2! GLPs begin to break down/mix and match/mitigate their original language "chunks" to create utterances that semi-novel. It's not totally their own word+word grammar like an ALP might create. But it's more flexible and novel than ever before!

NLA Stage 3 - isolation of single words and 2/3 word combos

For example: "inside", "spider", "spider...up", "small...spider".

In NLA stage 3, GLPs begin to process language more similarly to ALPs. For the first time, they are seeing isolated words as single units of meaning. They are seeing them as "building blocks" that they can add together to create truly novel combinations. It's a very exciting stage!

NLA Stage 4-6 - grammar!

In NLA stage 4 and beyond, GLPs start to further combine these isolated words, and start to add grammatical elements like verbs and conjunctions (and). They begin to create their own grammatical constructions for the first time. Wow! In NLA stages 5 and 6, this grammar just becomes more and more complex, until they are truly able to say whatever they want, and engage in quite complex conversations.

How do I know if my child is a GLP?

Please refer to these blog posts that can help you identify signs of gestalt language processing:

1) Is my child a gestalt language processor?

 Want to learn more about supporting GLPs?

Check out my Intro to GLP handbooks https://www.bohospeechie.net/handbooks

Check out my GLP courses: https://www.bohospeechie.net/courses

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bohospeechie/

Book a coaching call with me: https://calendly.com/katjapiscitelli/45min

This website is an incredible source of info: https://communicationdevelopmentcenter.com/

Sources

Blanc, M. 2012. Natural Language Acquisition on the Autism Spectrum: The Journey from Echolalia to Self-Generated Language. Madison, WI: Communication Development Center Inc.

Blanc, M. 2022. The Natural Language Acquisition Guide: Echolalia is all about gestalt language development. Madison, WI: Communication Development Center Inc.

Meaningful Speech Course. Meaningfulspeech.com

Natural Language Acquisition In Autism Echolalia To Self-Generated Language-Level 1, 2 and 3

From Echolalia to Self-Generated Language: Case Studies in Natural Language Acquisition. On Demand ASHA Webinar.

Communication development center (no date) Communication Development Center. Available at: https://communicationdevelopmentcenter.com/ (Accessed: January 14, 2023). 

Blanc, M. 2004. “When Speech Gets Stuck,” Autism Asperger’s Digest, Sept/Oct.

Blanc, M. 2005. “Finding the Words: To Tell the Whole Story—Natural Language Development on the Autism Spectrum,” Autism Asperger’s Digest, May/June, July/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec.

Blanc, M. 2010. “More than Words,” Autism Asperger’s Digest, January/February.

Prizant, B., (1982). Gestalt language and gestalt processing in autism. Topics in Language Disorders, 3, 1, 16-23.

Prizant, B. (1983). “Language Acquisition and Communicative Behavior in Autism: Toward an Understanding of the ‘Whole’ of It.” Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders 48:296–307.

Prizant, B., and P. Rydell. (1984). “An Analysis of the Functions of Delayed Echolalia in Autistic Children.” Journal of Speech and Hearing Research 27:183–92.

Rydell, P., and B. Prizant. (1995). “Assessment and Intervention Strategies for Children Who Use Echolalia.” In Teaching Children with Autism: Methods to Increase Communication and Socialization, edited by K. Quill: 105-129. Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers.

Stiegler, L. (2015). “Examining the Echolalia Literature: Where Do Speech-Language Pathologists Stand?” American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology: 1-13