Spotting the Ideology of “Good” Languaging with Maria Rosa Brea-Spahn

Guest: Maria Rosa Brea-Spahn, PhD, CCC-SLP

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/ideology-of-good-language

Join host Carolyn Dolby on School of Speech, presented by Speech Therapy PD, as she converses with Dr. Brea-Spahn in this enlightening episode. This follow-up session delves deeply into the concept of 'languaging,' exploring how language, as a verb, fosters communication beyond traditional norms. Dr. Brea-Spahn, a speech-language pathologist and university instructor, elaborates on how expanding our understanding of language encompasses multisensory experiences, communication beyond words, and the importance of person-centered approaches. Through discussions about children's books, the role of norms, and the importance of recognizing diverse communication modalities, this episode offers valuable insights for educators, therapists, and anyone interested in the evolving landscape of language and communication. Don't miss this transformative discussion designed to enhance your approach to speech-language therapy.

Episode Timeline:

00:37 Guest Introduction: Dr. Maria Rosa Brea-Spahn

02:42 Recap of Previous Episode

03:37 Defining Language as a Noun

06:52 Exploring Language as a Verb

10:23 Dynamic Nature of Language

12:37 Impact of Language on Identity

22:22 Children's Books and Language Ideologies

24:51 Analyzing Children's Books

27:38 Reframing Language Norms

31:52 Cultural Sensitivity in Clinical Practice

32:04 Evaluating Books for Language Ideologies

33:46 Using Books as Teaching Tools

36:47 Exploring 'Dreamer' by AEL Morales

44:48 Analyzing 'Gibberish' by Young V

48:45 Understanding 'A Day with No Words' by Tiffany Hammond

53:36 Celebrating Communicative Diversity

57:17 Final Thoughts and Future Projects

About the Guest: Dr. Brea-Spahn, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a Spanish, Espanglish, and English communicator, speech-language pathologist, and university teacher-scholar whose work has been centered at the intersection of multilingualism and disability. Her classroom and community collaborations focus on researching the impact of standardized linguistic ideologies in speech-language practices, sustaining variability in languaging in the classroom, and co-envisioning a path for linguistic liberation through art.