Child Language Development: Creating Compound Words

Language development for children is very important as it establishes the very foundation on which they will communicate. For many children, language comes naturally as they learn to develop words and word phrases from early childhood.

For some children, however, language development may be impeded. Whether brought about by physical complications, psychological complications or complications of cognitive and information processing, any delay in language development must be addressed early in childhood.

One aspect of language development commonly seen as a challenge for children is the development of compound words. Combining two or more words, compounding creates a new word expression with a new meaning. This type of word formation is considered to be highly structural and productive, with many children developing the skill after beginning grade school.

Once a child has developed the ability to create very basic compound words, such as 'bookstore' or 'sailboat', they move into a language development pattern that encourages the formation of plural compounds. Often, this transition from one word sentences, to compound phrases, to plural compound, occurs naturally.

If, by grade school, your child is not progressing to the use of compound words, it may be necessary to seek and obtain the testing by a speech and language pathologist. While not all children develop these language skills at the same rate, children who fail to develop compound word phrases naturally may require early intervention using language therapy.

Speech and language pathologists provide testing, therapy and language development for a variety of patients. For children with language development complications, when no other physical or psychological complication exists, the services offered by a speech and language pathologist may prove effective in relatively few number of language therapy sessions. The key, however, is recognizing the complication may exist, obtaining early testing and then encouraging the language development pattern.