Uniquely Human: The Podcast Gestalt language Processing and Natural Language Acquisition, with Marge Blanc and Alex Zachos
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Sep 13, 2024 Marge Blanc, a seasoned pediatric speech-language pathologist with 50 years of experience, joins fellow expert Alex Zachos to delve into Gestalt language processing and natural language acquisition. They discuss the journey from echolalia to meaningful conversation in autistic children, emphasizing the evolution of language development theories. The importance of holistic assessments in supporting language acquisition is highlighted, along with personal insights and community connections that enrich understanding and practices in the field.
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Marge's Motivation
- Marge Blanc's motivation to research gestalt language development stemmed from Barry Prezant's 1983 article calling for longitudinal research.
- Her work with autistic children at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, combined with insights from parents like Kathy and Barry's research, solidified her approach.
Alex's Journey
- Alex Zachos, a practicing SLP, struggled to support children with delayed echolalia, receiving advice to ignore or redirect it.
- Discovering Marge Blanc's book in 2016 provided her with a framework to understand and support these children, leading to her online community and advocacy.
Gestalt Language Development
- Children do not learn language solely through single words; they absorb meaning from larger chunks of language, or "gestalts."
- These gestalts are intonationally defined units tied to experiences, initially unanalyzed, then broken down for broader application.