Listen&Learn: Twin Language
Posted by: Jaksyn Peacock
Pre-listening vocabulary
- twins: two children born to the same parents at the same time
- invent: to create something new
- gesture: a physical action that communicates an idea
- development: the physical and mental growth of a child
- imitate: to copy someone’s behaviour
- mature: to grow older
Listening activity
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Gapfill exercise
Comprehension questions
See answers below
- Shared languages are common between
a. mothers and their children
b. twins
c. childhood friends - A language that only one or two people know is called an
a. idiosyncrasy
b. idioglossia
c. idiotype - Most of the time, invented languages
a. go away when children mature
b. blend with a child’s first language
c. can be understood by a child’s parents
Discussion/essay questions
- Some people believe that even adult twins can communicate with each other in a way that others can’t understand. Do you think this is true? Why or why not?
- Different from an idioglossia, an idiolect is a single person’s unique use of language. Everyone has an idiolect, even if they speak a common language. What are some ways that two speakers of the same language might use it differently?
Transcript
In early childhood, many siblings, especially twins, create shared languages that no one else can understand. A language known by only one or two people is called an idioglossia. These languages can have invented words, gestures, and sounds that communicate basic ideas. Children often create idioglossias early in their development, as they begin to understand how languages work. It is common in twins because they experience these stages of development at the same time, and they learn by imitating each other. Most of the time, invented languages go away as children mature. It is rare for a pair of twins to keep their shared language through adulthood.
Answers to comprehension questions
1b 2b 3a
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5 comments
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English Club Indonesia says:
This essay reminds me of an inside joke that only my certain friends and I understand. This joke sometimes surfaces with specific body language that no outsider can comprehend. This might be similar to idioglossia that occurs between twins. As an outsider, we can’t fathom it, but for the twins, it is a natural thing between them. Unlike idioglossia, an idiolect is a single person’s unique use of language.
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Mel says:
It’s very interesting,
I finally understand why my little girl speaks an invented language.
She’s French, we live in Sweden and she speaks an imaginary language. It’s great fun. -
glon says:
For me it’s the 1st time I heard this kind of language between two three children born at the same moment
It’s very interesting to discover that
Thank you
A wink from France -
Reza says:
I agree with all things that the King of Love has said. Furthermore, This is the most exciting text that I have read about the common language of twins, because I have never had twins myself, and I have never heard of it from anyone.
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The King Of Love From Iran says:
Greetings,
It is so much interesting to me!
I had heard about the body language before, but the above subject was new to me.The above lesson seems to be easier than the last week, so thanks to English Club.
In my opinion, it’s better that All Listens & Learns to be Intermediate level & Upper-intermediate that all students can use them in the best way because I think the students in Advanced level are not so much.
Please, feel free not to accept my opinion.
Finally, thanks a lot to Mr. Josef the founder of English Club for creating the site free of charge because I myself am one of them who have learned English free of charge here.
I don’t know how to tell ❤️all of YOU❤️
THANK YOU SO MUCH!My wish is to meet all of you in real space soon.
I Wish YOU Love & Peace in life,