Single-Word Gestalts & Gestalt Language Processing: Why They’re “Stuck” and How to Support Language Development

 Supporting gestalt language processors in the early stages (Stages 1 & 2) can feel challenging when they’ve acquired many single word gestalts. While analytic language processors benefit from individual words, gestalt language processors develop language differently and therefore, need different language support in the early stages. Single words do not support their language development into the later stages. Instead, single words are stuck. As Marge Blanc highlights, "most gestalt language processors will take whatever language we give them." They will take it, memorize it and say it but that doesn't mean it supports their language development.

Why Do Gestalt Language Processors Have “Stuck” Single Words?

For a gestalt language processor, a single word doesn’t function the same way it does for an analytic language processor (ALP). They’re unable to be expanded on, or combined with other single words to support a gestalt language processor’s language development. But why? 

Reason #1: Well-meaning adults – including parents, educators, and therapists – often do not know about gestalt language development and assume that giving a child “more words” will help support their language development. 

Reason #2: Therapists who only understand analytic language development see the child as a disordered analytic language processor and feel the way to "fix" it is with analytic language strategies like labeling and building vocabulary.

Both of these reasons lead to gestalt language processors that amass many single words that "go nowhere." An analytic language processor can take those single words and build upon them, expand their utterances and eventually construct sentences.

Example of an Analytic Language Processor (ALP):

• "Dog" → “Big Dog” → “Pet big dog.”

For an analytic language processor, these single words are flexible and can be combined into longer self-generated phrases and sentences as they move through the stages. But for an early stage gestalt language processor, all units of language (whether multi-word utterances or single words) act as one unit that cannot be moved/combined/changed.

Example of a Gestalt Language Processor (gestalt language processor):

• "All dogs go to heaven" (multi-word gestalt)
• Single word "dog" (single word gestalt) 

Gestalt language processors focus is on the intonation, the emotional and meaningful experience tied to that gestalt. Focus is not on the word/words. Both are treated as one unit by a Stage 1 gestalt language processor. If they learned "dog" from having a pet or seeing a flashcard it is still the intonation and meaningful first experience that makes it a gestalt for them. It is a "stand alone" unit to them. They may label "dog" when they see one BUT they won't begin to say "big dog" or "black dog" in stage 1 because the "dog" gestalt can't be combined and is not being processed as a true single word.

So, How Do We Help Gestalt Language Processors Progress When They Have “Stuck” Single Words?

We can support a gestalt language processor who has amassed many single word gestalts. Here are five practical steps to support early stage gestalt language processors who have “stuck” single words:

1. Acknowledge All Gestalts, Long or Short

• Acknowledge the child’s language by smiling, nodding, repeating  the word or phrase, or saying something simple like, “Yeah!”. This validates their communication even if we don’t immediately know what they’re trying to communicate to us. 

2. Leave Single-Word Gestalts Alone

• Avoid trying to expand on single-word gestalts. For example:
• Child: “Car.”
• Adult: Rather than expanding it to “big car” or “fast car,” simply say something like, “Let’s go!” This approach respects the way gestalt language processors process language as fixed units and avoids analytic language strategies like expansion that do not work with early stage gestalt language processors. 

3. Model New 2-3+ Word Potential Gestalts

• Just like analytic language processors need more single words in early language development, gestalt language processors need more gestalts in their first stage. Offer rich, novel phrases tied to meaningful experiences, using expressive intonation to make them memorable. This provides a new potential gestalt that the child can use if it resonates with them. Remember, gestalt language processors will only pick up language if it is meaningful to them. If they’re not picking up on your language models, there are a few factors you’ll want to consider. Check out our blog post on this HERE. 
• Example:
• Child: “Car.”
• Adult: Models: “Let’s go!” or “Let’s get moving!” (the key here is to model something NEW not a longer phrase or sentence with the word “car” in it)

4. Trust the Process – Single Words are Freed in Stage 3 

• It’s common for gestalt language processors to have single word gestalts they picked up along the way. When they get to stage 3 and "free" all the words from their longer gestalts plus begin to process words as units a lot will fall into place for them. Keep your focus on modeling more gestalts in stage 1. Keep things playful, vary your intonation and bring in the excitement and drama. That's what makes new gestalts "stick" for GLPs!

5. Make sure those on the child’s team understand gestalt language development. 

• Those around the child the most are going to have the most influence on their language development so it is important that they are educated and feel confident using strategies that support the child. This includes parents, caregivers, educators, therapists and anyone else who spends time with the child. There are many resources out there for them to start learning and changing their approach. Many adults still have not heard of gestalt language development. We suggest sending them our FREE Masterclass on Echolalia & Child-Led Therapy to start their journey. From there, they may continue on through our other free resources like our blog, Free AAC Beginner’s Guide, research and resources, podcasts, etc. or they may want to dive deeper with our paid self-paced courses or a live training (we offer both virtual and in-person trainings for organizations such as school districts, daycares, cooperatives, or clinics).