15 months old, week 2

Something was subtly yet noticeably different about Juli with her language and cognitive developments this week. She was growing.

Imagination and pretend play

Juli often played "milk party" (as in "tea party"), pouring some imaginary milk from the real empty carton into the cup with some milk in it. She drank and shared it with me to drink. She walked with support in an adult's shoes. She broomed and cleaned.

Using the "1" handshape in ASL words

Last week I pondered about how Juli didn't use the "1" handshape in some ASL words. She used this index finger only in gestural pointing.

Sure enough, this week I noticed Juli finally used the "1" handshape in some ASL words, such as pineapple, comb and some others later.

In the past, when producing those words, Juli used the "20" handshape in replacement of the "1" handshape.

Language development

Another thing was that Juli imitated or learned and uttered a new ASL word the moment she was shown, exposed to, or introduced.

For example, in our routine (or bedtime ritual practice) I talked to Juli in front of the hallway mirror good+night in It's bedtime now. Good night. (translation).

Another thing was that Juli walked around thinking and producing father, mother, father, mother. She was talking to herself.

Juli also began to talk about things that referents were not present (thus, no pointing to the context). This was becoming a new challenge for me.

As reflected in the "milk party" imagination, it suggests that Juli had been growing more thinking of non-present objects and actions in her mind and expressed them in action and language.

Use of ASL words

The following referential words that Juli had used this week: pineapple (1-handshape), cook, duck, yogurt (her make-up), good+night (imitating), shower (pretty good production), turtle, some more as shown in the video above, and some reguarly used ASL words.

People

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