There are two ways to process and develop language, where both of them are natural and normal:
Analytic language processor (ALP)
Gestalt language processor (GLP)
When children are young (age 3 and below), it can be difficult to identify them as an analytic language processor (ALP) or a gestalt language processor (GLP). Kids might use both ways to process language. When they get older and have more experiences they pick up only one style and use them.
When we talk about ALP, we refer to individuals whose language development follows a typical pattern recognised by society. They excel at breaking down language into smaller components like grammar and vocabulary, and they often enjoy activities that involve analysing language patterns. (It’s important to underline, again, that both styles are normal!).
In this case, the basic units of language are words, so kids start to use only a word, after they combine two words, then it starts to emerge the grammar in their first phrases, they start to use first sentences, and last they use more complex sentences with mature grammar skills.
When we talk about GLP, we refer to are individuals whose language development happens in a unique way, often focusing on the overall meaning or "big picture" rather than breaking language down into smaller parts. It is a natural process of development that can be described by Natural Language Acquisition (NLA). In this case, the basic units of language are “chunks”.
The NLA has 4 stages:
Stage 1 – Echolalia
In this very young phase kids talk using echolalia or gestalt; a gestalt is the repetition of words or phrases heard that are used verbatim after some time has passed. They can hear gestalts from books, TV, or songs. E.g., “let’s get out of here!”, “give me five”.
Stage 2 - Mitigation
In this phase, kids recombine gestalts among themselves, and create flexibility in their language. E.g.,
Phrase: let’s get out of there – give me five
GLP: let’s get five – give me out of there
Stage 3 - Single words and two word recombination
In this stage, kids isolate a single word from a gestalt and make a new two-word combination of a noun+modifier or just a noun without taking care of the order of the words. E.g., “get… five”
Stage 4 - Original Phrases/Sentences and Beginning Grammar
Kids use freed words to make new phrases and sentences; they are simple at first for increasing after their complexity. E.g.,
Phrase: “I get”
GLP: “I want to get some more”
Gestalt language processing isn't a disorder, and it isn't a processing style specific to one demographic. What is significant to understand is that many autistic individuals are GLPs, but not all GLPs are autistic.
It might happen to have seen a language milestones chart with the following information:
12 months: a child uses one word
18 months: a child has a vocabulary burst and uses 20-50 words
2 years: a child uses 200 words and begins to combine two words into phrases.
These kinds of charts describe an analytic language processor's language development journey, and they are NOT for gestalt language processors.
Bibliography:
Kathryn A. (2022), Gestalt language processing handbook, handouts for coaching and education
Marge B., Olivia W. (no date), Natural language acquisition
Marge B. (2005), Finding the the words… to tell the “whole” story