This is my first time using the CM and I'm thrilled to see someone mentioning gestalts and Natural Language Acquisition!!

Renee 

I'm so excited that you brought this question to this community! I may be in partial agreement with the earlier responses below and would appreciate continuing this discussion. 

Based on attending recent courses on gestalt and echolalic language learners) that it actually is considered "one chunk" or, "one word" and level VI. However, I am thinking that if language samples indicate that the phrase/utterance is repeated but "marked" differentially using intonation, stress, vocal volume (level VI), or combined with a gesture (clearly marking its communication function)... well, then in that instance, I might code it as level VII. (i.e., "Just keep swimming" can mean: wants more of an item or action; but if points to someone + says "Just keep swimming" might mean: You do again, your turn... but one has to know the child well. and emerging is in just one instance, prompted, or with one partner and if doing this across partners, situations and independently, then mastered... definitely needs explaining and has implications for moving through stages of therapy supports. 

I am inclined not to think that it is level VII in the utterance's face value - especially since in many instances, the utterance may appear to have nothing to do with the situation at hand (such as in the example above when 'swimming' was not the activity per se but a quote from a Disney movie.)

I'll attach two links: one from Hanen and another via ASHA:

https://www.hanen.org/SiteAsse...

https://www.asha.org/practice-...

Reference: Blanc, M. (2012). Natural language acquisition on the autism spectrum: The journey from echolalia to self-generated language. Communication Development Center.

Hello, 

I am replying from the Communication Matrix Team:

Our definitions for Mastered and Emerging include the concept of initiation and consistency: 

Emerging behaviors are used inconsistently or only when prompted or encouraged. They are used only in one or two contexts or with only one person. For example:
1. Greeting others is considered emerging if the individual only greets her father, and only after he greets her first. 

2. When someone only repeats a word after someone else has just spoken it, that would be considered emerging.

Mastered behaviors are used independently most of the time, when the opportunity arises. They are used in a number of different contexts, and with different people. For example, greeting others is considered mastered if the individual greets family, friends, and unfamiliar people without being prompted to.       

Using the definitions above, we would recommend that you score this behavior at Level 7 Emerging. Scores of Mastered versus Emerging would capture differences in initiating communication versus only producing it when prompted.