Comprehension of Spatial Vocabularies and Verbs in the Period of Early Language Acquisition

—A Case Study on a Child with Down Syndrome—

Abstract

This study investigated the development of comprehension of spatial vocabularies and verbs during the early language acquisition period of a child with Down syndrome. We collected data on comprehension of the spatial vocabularies "in", "on", "here", "there" and "under" in the daily life of the child from 2 years 2 months old to 3 years 3 months old. After comprehension of verbs such as "walk", "get", "give", "eat", "bring" and "carry", the child began to understand the spatial vocabularies. Comprehension of the spatial preposition "in" developed parallel with that of the verbs "sit", "show" and "drop". Comprehension of "here" was parallel with that of the verb "jump". Regarding "there", the verbs "push" and "take" were understood in the same period. The spatial preposition "under"was comprehended in the period of understanding more verbs. These findings suggested that early comprehension of spatial vocabularies in this child with Down syndrome developed in daily activities such as movements and exercises conducted under parental verbal command.