Speech Therapy Jargon: Speech & Language Terms

by Jacky G.

When you’re new to the world of speech therapy, learning the new terminology can be overwhelming. Always ask your child’s speech-language pathologist (SLP) to rephrase something if you have trouble with it. You can also stop by your local library and pick up some books on speech therapy. Many speech therapy books offer a simple breakdown of the basics. Here’s a quick reference guide to help you get started sorting out the terms. You can also review our previous post on speech therapy acronyms.

Articulation

This is often used as a general term to describe the pronunciation of sounds. A child with an articulation disorder might skip certain sounds, substitute them, or distort them. Articulation also refers to sounds that are produced with the lips, tongue, and teeth, or “articulators.”

Delay

A speech or language delay means that a child is progressing at a slower rate than other children in his age group.

Disorder

A speech or language disorder means that a child is developing speech and language abnormally. It refers to atypical language usage.

Dysfluency

Speech with an irregular flow. Certain sounds may be improperly elongated, airflow may be interrupted, and sounds, words, or phrases may be improperly repeated.

Echolalia

A repetition of words that occurs without meaning and in imitation. For example, a child might repeat a slogan from a commercial in a situation in which the slogan makes no sense. The imitation may occur immediately after the stimulus or later.

Fluency

Fluency refers to speech that flows smoothly and is clearly understood. Fluent speech is without irregularities like abnormal repetitions.

Functional

The causes of functional speech disorders are usually unknown. That is, they occur without a physical disability. A child or adult with a functional speech disorder has trouble making one or more specific sounds.

Language

Language refers to a set of rules for the expression of meaningful communication. Includes speech, writing, signing, and gestures.

Language Sample

A language sample is a collection of a child’s communication that a speech therapist will use to assess a speech disorder or delay.

Morpheme

A morpheme is a meaningful part of language that cannot be broken down further. For example, “tree.” A bound morpheme is part of a larger word. For example, the “ing” on “hiking.”

Organic

A speech disorder with a known, physical cause. For example, a stroke or brain injury may cause a speech disorder.

Phoneme

The smallest possible sound. For example, the phonemes “m” and “n.”

Phonics

The relationship between spoken sounds and written letters. For example, “phone” sounds like “fone.”

Phonological Awareness

The awareness of sounds (both written and verbal), how they go together, and how they may be changed to create new meanings and words.

Semantics

The meaning of words and language. For example, “I’m so hungry, I could eat an elephant,” is not meant to be interpreted literally. A child with a problem with semantics might not understand abstract language or idioms.

Speech

The verbal method of communication.

Syntax

The rules that govern how words and phrases fit together to create coherent sentences. In other words, grammar.

Speech Therapist