Context Clues

 

Context Clues

Studies about language acquisition fascinate me. How do children learn to speak? A linguist did a study using his own toddler son. He recorded a year in his child’s life noting when and where his son used new words. After crunching the data, he came to a conclusion which can be summed up in one word: context.

Context is defined as the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea to be assessed and understood clearly. The linguist found that his son best understood and used words in settings in which they had meaning for him. For example, he used the word “water” first in the bathroom. The researcher determined that his son had heard this word most frequently in the places where it had meaning – the bathroom and the kitchen.

According to this data, children learn words in the circumstances and settings in which they most need them. They learn food words in the kitchen, rest words in the bedroom and play words in the back yard. The best place to learn something is where you can use it or understand it. The best place to learn about nature is outside. The best place to learn about cooking is in the kitchen. The best way to learn a sport is to play it. 

Children are the most efficient of language learners. One of my friends has two sons, ages 2 and 4, who speak English, Mandarin Chinese, and a Taiwanese dialect. They speak Chinese to their mother, English to their father, and the dialect to their grandmother. They switch effortlessly from one to another. The first time I met them they sized me up, chose the correct language, and jumped right into the conversation.  

Children learn words at an amazing rate. Which words do you want your children to learn? What settings and circumstances are you providing for their language acquisition?  Children thrive when introduced to new experiences, new settings, and new ideas. How are you providing these for your children?

As children grow, they add thousands of words to their repertoire. Many of these will be easy to learn: love, happiness, share, friend, forgiveness. Many will be harder: grief, sorrow, anger, loss, pain. Context for all of these words depends on parents, teachers, and friends.

Reading teachers talk a lot about context clues – the hints an author gives to help readers understand difficult or unknown words. “Sunday was an idyllic day for a picnic, sunny, warm, and relaxed.” We understand the new word because of the words surrounding it. Sunday must have been a great day. 

The “hints” children get from parents and teachers help them understand the world around them. Hints such as kindness, generosity, forgiveness, joy, curiosity and security help children learn not only new words but new attitudes: If Mom and Dad think it’s important, then maybe I should too. Dad loves reading; I will too. Mom loves helping others; I will too. My teacher laughs while she learns: I will too. 

The researcher who recorded his son’s word acquisitions provided him with the setting he needed to learn – a loving and happy home. Provide the context which your children need not only to learn new words but to learn the attitudes, ideas, and qualities you want them to have. 

Home or school will be an idyllic setting for every child when those who love them provide the context they need to grow.