Reflection

Abstract

Language is any complex system acquired by humans for communication purposes. More often than not, specific sounds are used to communicate. A good number of sounds make up a certain language spoken by a given group of people residing in some geographical location. When children are born, they gradually learn the language of their parents. However, before they speak they use non-verbal methods (pre-linguistics) to communicate with people around them. This paper gives an observation made on an infant (Marlin), 11 months old, interacting with her mother (Caroline) in a nearby homestead. The names used are not real so that their privacy can be protected. The findings help to comprehend how language develops.

Observing an Infant Interacting with an Important Adult

The observation exercise took place in Columbus, Georgia. Miss Caroline had been requested to allow the event to take place in her home. She was told its importance and absolute privacy guaranteed. On arrival at the venue, both were greeted warmly. Marlin was healthy and in a jovial mood. Observation was done from a hidden corner so that the infant would not be distracted. A tape-recorder was used to capture the audio produced during their interaction. Other notable activities were written down on a notebook.

A few minutes after everything was on place, Marlin started shaking her head when her mother turned on the radio. It was playing a common song. She was also smiling and swaying her hands from side to side. When it was switched of, she frowned and swayed her hands so furiously that she hit her sides. She even went ahead to throw a little toy she was carrying. Eventually, she started crying. It is no doubt that she was annoyed and was sending a message to her mother to turn on the radio. She stopped crying when her mom told her, “I will give you candy.”

The front door was then knocked. Marlin heard it and turned her head to see what it was. Her mother walked away to answer the door. Marlin was left behind sitting on the floor. On seeing her mother leave, she started shouting, “Mamma! Ma! Mama!” as she crawled towards her. After a short chat with the intruder, she came back and Marlin responded by wearing a smile on her face.

Moments later, Marlin started to point at the fridge babbling a word. It sounded like “Milk”. Indeed she meant it because her mum removed some milk from the fridge, warmth it and fed her. It was crystal that this was their daily routine. Afterwards, somebody telephoned Miss Caroline. Her daughter tried to mimic her as she answered the call. She managed to speak some words though they were not clear.

It was astonishing to find out that Marlin would respond to some instructions her mum gave her. For example: When told, “Come here”, she crawled to her mum’s position. At a given time, she tried to touch an electric cable but she stopped when her mum told her. “No!”

Finally, Marlin seemed to understand the meaning of some words. She turned her head to face the television when her mum mentioned the word “TV”. When left alone playing in the room, she commenced mumbling some words as she moved her doll up and down.

Miss Caroline was later interviewed to gather more information. She revealed that her baby had learnt what she knew gradually. As time went by, she learnt more and more. She also disclosed that she can know what her daughter wants when she babble some words and display some gestures or facial expression among others.

Conclusion

It is vivid that infants have their own innate form of communicating. They develop non-verbal and verbal methods of communicating as they grow up. This goes on until they learn to speak some words.