2015 Volume 56 Issue 1 Pages 12-19
In this study the author investigated early language development in a 6-year-old boy with general learning difficulties, using the dynamic systems approach. Trajectories of dynamic variables were observed of the types McCune (2008) indicated in a child longitudinally for 16 months. The results here revealed that the child's prelinguistic communicative behaviors and gestures, e.g. communicative grunting, showing, and pointing to objects in close distance, showed two increasing periods in frequency. These periods were thought to be an attractive state and a stable state (stability) within the dynamic systems. A control parameter was the variable of mental representations for the child. As self-pretense in his symbolic play and indication of manipulations with a wide array of miniature toys in our playroom emerged, he began to articulate /m//n/ sounds. His first meaningful words emerged at the age of 7 years and 4 months. These findings suggested synergy between interaction of mental representation and emergence of consonant sounds. Output of the control parameter was based on the attractive state and its stability.