Michael Strong asks five-year-old Alana about her two-year-old brother Logan's language skills. She estimates he knows five words, understands her when she speaks slowly, and listens more to their parents. Alana thinks he'll learn to talk by hearing more speech and listening harder.
So how are you?
Good, how are you?
I'm well. Did you just wake up?
Yep.
Are you rested or are you pretty tired?
I'm a little bit tired but rested.
Good for you, good for you. So I was— we were talking about how Logan may understand things differently than you. Do you think he does?
Yes, I think so.
So how many words does Logan know?
A little bit.
Like 5 words? 10 words?
I think 5.
And how old is he now?
He's 2.
Okay. Do you think that if you speak Slowly he understands most of your words?
Yes.
Have you ever tried to teach him a new word?
No.
Why not?
Because I don't know.
Do you look forward to the time when he can talk to you? Yes. When do you think he'll be able to have a full conversation with you?
Um, when he is 5 or 4.
So you think you could have full conversations when you were 4?
Yes.
So how do you think Logan will learn how to have a conversation?
Um, if we talk more to him.
And is it you talking to him, or does he have to listen, or what else happens?
I think he has to listen.
Does he listen when you talk now?
Only sometimes.
Do you think if he listens harder that he learns more?
Yes, I think so.
Do you think you learn more when you listen harder?
Um, yes.
And does he listen to you more or to your parents more or both the same?
He listens more to my parents, not really me.
Why do you think that is?
Because like whenever I tell him to like do something, he just always doesn't do it.
But he does it when your parents ask him to?
Sometimes.
Why do you think he doesn't listen to his sister?
I don't know.
Does it annoy you?
Only sometimes.
Um, does sometimes he do what you ask of him?
Sometimes he does what I ask.
But that means he can understand you, right?
Yeah, but only like sometimes.
So what's an example of something that he would understand? What have you asked him to do that he understood and did it?
Um, I don't know.
Do you ask him to eat with you or go on walks with you or play with you?
Sometimes he eats with me sometimes, but he doesn't do anything else with me.
And when you ask him, does he seem to do most of what you ask?
Only sometimes, 'cause— 'cause like—
Go ahead.
He needs to do what he wants, but sometimes he does what we want.
I see. And is that the same with you? Do you need to do what you want?
Sometimes, but sometimes I need to follow the instructions.
How do you decide when to follow instructions versus when to do what you want?
I don't know.
Okay, well, I'm very interested in how you watch your little brother grow up, because you are going to see him grow up and talk to you just like you talk to me. And I think when I had kids, I thought it was fun to get to know them. Because your parents get to know you because you talk to them, right?
Yeah.
Do you think you guys know Logan as— do you think your parents know Logan as well as they know you, or does it help that you talk to them?
I think they know Logan as well as they know me.
So talking to people is not important to get to know them?
Like when they talk to other people too, it's important too.
I guess I'm wondering, can you really know somebody if they don't talk to you?
Um, I don't know.
There he is! Is that Logan?
Yep, that's Logan.
Hi, Logan! Hi, Logan! Hi, Logan!
Sister Daddy.
Sister Daddy. I heard Sister Daddy. Did you hear that?
Yeah, he said, this is my sister Ayaya.
Mama sleeping.
So I think, Alana, your brother just had a little conversation with me.
I guess that's for sure. You know, it's a pie.
Yeah, he's just asking for his iPad now.
Sounds like your dad totally understands him.
Oh yeah, crystal clear. I will say one thing that Alana has taught Logan is how to be street smart as we walk and scoot around San Diego. He listens to every word she says. Stop, go, careful, driveway coming up.
And whenever I stop her, say go, I don't even say something and he just does what I do.
Fantastic. So he does listen to you more than you think. Does that seem right?
Yes.
Okay, well, I will let you guys have a wonderful morning and we'll talk next week. Thank you so much, Alana.
You're welcome.
Bye-bye.
Bye.
