The Difference Between Speech and Language
It’s important to understand the difference between “speech” and “language”-- two terms that are often used interchangeably. Although they are often lumped together and can influence each other, they are actually two very different things!
Some children and adults that speech-language pathologists work with may never speak, but instead use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to communicate with others. This is an example of using language to communicate without speaking. Some people use a combination of verbal and nonverbal communication. Also, at times we will recommend use of AAC while additionally working on spoken language.
Speech: How we say sounds and words
Speech, or how we say sounds and words, is the actual, physical element of moving and coordinating the lips, tongue, jaw, vocal cords and palate to produce spoken words. It refers to your ability to actually produce sounds and say words.
According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, speech includes articulation, voice, and fluency.
Articulation: How we make speech sounds using the mouth, lips, and tongue.
Voice: How we use our vocal folds and breath to make sounds, like when we make our voice louder, softer, higher-pitched, or lower.
Fluency: The rhythm of our speech.
Language: The words we use, and how we use them to convey meaning.
According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, language includes what words mean, how to make new words, how to put words together, and what we should say at different times. Language does not have to be spoken language. Here is more information about the components of language:
What words mean: Knowing what different words mean, and being able to identify which meaning is the right one when a word has two meanings.
How to make new words: The ability to change, alter, and blend syllables and suffixes to make words.
How to put words together: The ability to combine and arrange our words in the right order, so that we can be understood.
What we should say at different times: Understanding how we might tweak or adjust our style of communicating in different situations and contexts. For example, we often speak more casually with friends and family than we would with our boss!
Learn more about your child’s speech and language development
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