Proto-words and Gestural Babbling

I was emailing with a friend about language development in Jman and she asked about SB3's language development. It was fun answering with a snapshot of where I see him right now, and I thought I'd blog it.

SB3 is 8.5 months old right now, crawling and pulling up, and into everything! He doesn't have any real words yet, but that doesn't mean he isn't a good communicator. He may even have a few "proto-words." If I walk by him and don't pick him up, he will often start fussing and saying, "MMMMMMMMMMMAH!" Habeeb and I both think it's a 'proto-word' for "mom." He'll babble "mamamamama," but his "MMMMMMAH" when I'm passing is very different from his generic sound babbling.

Another "proto-word" may be "DY-DY-DY" for "dia-dia-diaper." He'll babble "da-da-da" but his "dy-dy-dy" during a "dia-dia-diaper change" is different and seems intentional.

Just recently I've noticed something I'm calling "gestural babbling." He doesn't wave hello or good-bye yet when someone waves to him. However, just in the last couple days I've noticed that when he notices someone(s) he's interested in off in the distance, someone not paying attention to him already, he may put a little hand out and start opening and closing his fist, kind of a 'proto-wave.' He doesn't really know how to 'wave' yet, but he's beginning to practice this 'gestural babbling,' and it's really quite fascinating to watch.

I've also noticed that when SB3 sees something he finds interesting, he'll study it intently for a few moments and then grunt. Very "Tim the Tool Man Taylor-ish." Makes his daddy proud! haha! Anyway, It's kind of like 'proto-commenting,' I suppose. He doesn't have the words to say what he's thinking, but he still is vocalizing something to fill in that 'communication blank.' Those are excellent times to toss in my own observations, such as, "Oh, you see the kitty cat! He's happy to be outside, isn't he?"

But right at this moment his chosen communication mode is reaching for me while working up a very distressed cry. That communication says, "Mommy, I'm tired! Please pick me up and help me go to sleep!!!"