Understanding Socialized Speech in Child Development

Understanding Socialized Speech in Children

Socialized speech refers to a child's ability to perform effective communication with a partner. It utilizes various forms:

Adapted Information

• Seeks to communicate the child's thoughts, telling the listener something that might interest them and influence their behavior, which can lead to exchange, discussion, or collaboration.
• The information is directed to a particular partner, who may not be interchangeable with just anyone. If the speaker does not understand, the child insists until they are understood.

Criticism and Ridicule

These are comments about the work or behavior of others, specifically concerning a partner. They are designed to assert the superiority of the self and denigrate others. Their main function is to communicate thoughts that meet non-intellectual needs, such as those related to conflict or self-love. They usually contain very subjective judgments.

Orders, Entreaties, and Threats

The language of the child primarily serves a recreational purpose. Intellectual exchange is minimally shown in adapted information, and the rest of socialized speech falls mainly into this category. While orders and threats are easy to recognize, it is relevant to make some distinctions. "Entreaties" refer to all orders placed in a non-interrogative form, while orders phrased as questions fall into the 'Questions' category.

Questions

Most questions from child to child call for a response, so they can be considered within socialized speech. However, be careful with those questions that do not require a response from another, as the child is speaking solo; these questions constitute monologue.

Answers

These are responses to questions themselves (with a question mark) and to orders, not the answers given during general talks, which would correspond to the category of "adapted information." Answers are not part of the child's spontaneous speech. Peers or adults may ask more questions for the child to respond more, increasing the percentage of socialized speech. The percentage of egocentric speech depends on the activity of