The process of communication is familiar and commonplace for the vast majority of people. The linguistic form of communication becomes an integral means of conveying one’s thoughts in a formulated form for both young children and adults. Another thing is that the quality of the use of speech can be different. According to experts, for most of his life, a person has been gaining experience in using the language as a means of verbal communication, improving it in various aspects. In the early postembryonic age, a person develops basic communication skills with the outside world, including speech. Speech development in ontogenesis occurs in stages, some of which can demonstrate a level of proficiency in this skill, which, at first glance, has nothing to do with the traditional idea of language communication.
General Speech
Speech communication can be considered as a tool for the exchange of information. Thanks to the psycholinguistic process, which was formed due to speech skills, a person was able to use the past and modern experience of other people. Thus, the development of the already working skills of mankind took shape. At the same time, speech cannot be considered in isolation from the immediate tool for its implementation - language. On the one hand, it is understood as an organ of the articulation apparatus, and on the other hand, a set of signs indicating a particular phenomenon, action or object of the real world. The quality of using language skills determines the effectiveness of communication. And the development of speech in ontogenesis is in some way the foundation on which the subsequent formation of articulatory and other abilities is built.
Properties and functions of speech
As already noted, speech allowed a person to achieve a modern and fairly high level of work. This became possible due to the fact that a person effectively used the functions of verbal communication. First of all, it is a communication function that acts as a translator of the thoughts of a specific individual. Here it is also worth emphasizing the ability to perceive speech, without which the psycholinguistic process either becomes significantly impoverished or does not make sense at all. Along with this, speech and its use provides an impetus for personal intellectual activity, during which such skills as memory, perception, thinking, etc. are improved. As well as communication functions, these abilities depend on how effective the speech itself is. The development of speech in ontogenesis also lays down the qualitative characteristics of this skill. Among them, the ability to informally convey thoughts, the correctness of presentation, expressiveness and effectiveness, that is, the effect on the interlocutor, stands out.
Stages of speech activity
There are different approaches to the systematization of stages, during which the formation of speech skills occurs with varying degrees of intensity. But usually all the same, there are three basic stages - these are the preparatory, pre-school and pre-school periods. The initial stage involves the development of speech in the period up to a year. Moreover, it can be divided into several separate periods, since at this time there are several fundamentally important transitional moments in development. This is followed by the so-called primary or pre-school stage, by the onset of which the child should already have formed the basic skills of owning precisely the speech apparatus. But, again, these are just the initial stages of speech development in ontogenesis, from which one should not expect serious results in terms of improving the quality of communication abilities. And the third stage involves the formation of skills in grammar tools.
First speech reactions
From the first days of birth, there is no need to speak about traditional even the rudimentary manifestations of speech, but this period is important from the point of view of the formation of the speech apparatus. It is significant, because at this time it is possible to eliminate some physiological defects, which in the future will become an obstacle to the full development of articulation abilities. Therefore, a special place is the examination of organs that will determine the future development of speech in ontogenesis. Briefly, these organs can be designated as a triad, including respiratory, voice and articulatory devices. The child in the same period begins to manifest the movements of these departments, thanks to which he emits screams and cries.
Speech development in the first six months of a child’s life
Up to 5-6 months, the child’s speech apparatus begins to strengthen, he can confidently babble and scream. Towards the end of this station, humming is also manifested, which can also provide information about possible defects. What is more important, in parallel with the development of their own abilities for verbal communication, children begin to actively perceive third-party sounds, giving them one or another value. Parents and others in general can influence the anchoring of words in the context of creating an association. In general, the features of the development of speech in ontogenesis are largely determined by the influence of the external environment. The child is influenced by intonation, certain situational nuances and behaviors. To strengthen some model situations, it is recommended to repeat them several times - the memory of the child at this time is sometimes a more effective development tool than physical articulation skills.
Stage of development from 5 to 12 months
This period is characterized by two important changes that will mark a new level in the development of speech skills by the child. Firstly, it is an active imitation of adults. Children not only seek to imitate sound signals through which communication takes place, but also imitate the very mechanics of articulation pronunciation. Thus, a typical model is formed on the basis of which speech will be built. The development of speech in ontogenesis at this stage also involves the strengthening of associations between words and the outside world, but already in a complex and with emotional coloring. And here we can note the second important change in the direction of future development. This is the emergence of clearer responses to words and phrases. The child more fully perceives the speech of adults and makes individual decisions on its basis.
Stage of development from 1 to 3 years
During this period, the child forms an articulatory apparatus and secures the semantic base on the basis of which he can be aware of what adults say. And if in the first year the understanding of words occurs in a generalized form, then at that time the children already have a more or less stable speech, although with serious errors. For example, they may confuse the meanings of certain words, omit prepositions, and also experience difficulty in expressing requests. At this stage, the development of speech in the process of ontogenesis mainly occurs due to the accumulation of words. That is, the mechanics of handling them is already in the stage of active formation and is only improving, but many children experience difficulties precisely because of a lack of vocabulary.
Stage of development from 3 to 7 years
Starting from 3 years old, children can already express their thoughts in an understandable form, while observing the grammatical structure. Of course, during this period there will be many mistakes. Most of them are still allowed due to the inability to correctly use complex sentences, and in some cases mistakes are made in the pronunciation of sounds. Phonemic perception also develops. This means that the child can more effectively approach his own control of speech. He hears himself and corrects, based on the rules set by the adults themselves. Therefore, the educational function of parents is still significant. In addition, the development of children's speech in ontogenesis at this stage is inextricably linked with the improvement of such qualities as thinking, remembering and perception.
The development of phonetic and phonemic skills
The consolidation of the ability to perceive sounds by ear and reproduce them correctly is formed together with the development of the direct organs of speech generation. In other words, the entire speech apparatus and voice departments, together with the auditory system, are the central objects that the child seeks to intuitively master. Moreover, more attention can be paid to articulation, since the quality of pronunciation depends on it. Here, the ability to use speech shades is manifested. Emotions are increasingly reflected in the way in which certain words are pronounced. Intonation, in particular, at this stage acquires its own stylistic features, which naturally can repeat the manner of conversation surrounding adults.
The process of expanding the lexical and grammatical base
In addition to the accumulation of words, at this time the child is trying to correctly connect them. The simplest ligaments he already succeeds, however, problems with the preparation of complex phrases are still possible. Skills for proper case management are developing gradually. The ability to distinguish between the plural and the singular, endings, etc. is also developing. A later period during which the development of the grammatical structure of speech in ontogenesis occurs is characterized by the formation of syntactic and morphological levels of language proficiency. Children learn the techniques of word formation and inflection, independently make sentences and learn how to deal with stress properly. And still phonetics and the ability to perceive third-party speech remains one of the main external factors due to which the child develops his communication abilities.
The development of coherent speech in ontogenesis
During this period, there is a comprehensive strengthening of speech skills from different angles - from sound, morphological, grammatical and lexical. Coherent speech requires a lot of effort from the child and also involves thinking processes to a greater extent. The skills of maintaining a dialogue are also being formed, which already consists not only of simple or complex sentences, but also requires relatively quick speech reactions to changing answers and questions. As the patterns of speech development in ontogenesis show, children begin to pay special attention to the process of communication and its context. The commonality of the situation, which background connects the child and the interlocutor, has an impact on his statements.
Possible disturbances in the process of speech development
Speech defects are mainly associated with the underdevelopment of mental functions, although physical abnormalities often occur. Usually, both reasons complement each other, because of which an insurmountable complex of factors is formed that do not allow finding an unambiguous means of getting rid of the problem. Such defects include alalia, dysphonia, logoneurosis, etc. Some deviations are associated with disturbances in the processes of voice education, others are caused by problems in the hearing aid, and still others do not allow the temporal function to be properly organized. Sometimes the impaired development of speech in ontogenesis can be corrected at an early age. But as they grow older, even within the initial stages of the development of oral speech, dealing with such violations becomes more difficult.
Conclusion
According to experts, there are no general models by which the development of speech abilities occurs. As such skills develop, each child, like a bridge, has his own system to help him understand the laws and principles on which speech is based. Speech development in ontogenesis also occurs with the postponement of certain skills. This should also be prepared. For example, he may feel repeated sonorous sounds in the early stages, but he is not yet able to pronounce them himself. In some ways, the differentiation of individual signs of verbal communication occurs in terms of phonetic perception, and will also take place in the further formation of the ability to add sentences from words and maintain dialogs.