“Think for a moment about how children learn language. They are learning before they are even born. They can

hear and feel the vibrations of their mother’s voice while they are still in the womb. Once welcomed into the world, they listen to their parents talking and singing to them. Like little sponges, they soak everything in, from the sounds letters and words make to the inflection and rhythm of the spoken language. Then they begin making sounds of their own.

Through oral language, or spoken language, children progress in their understanding of words and the ability to use them to communicate their thoughts and feelings with others. They start by saying simple words usually around the age of one, soon followed by stringing words together to form sentences.”