prelingually

1 9.5

Happening before a child learns to talk or understand words

adverb
/ˌpriːˈlɪŋɡwəli/

Specialized

: prelingualmente

Research indicates that prelingually deaf individuals may face unique challenges in acquiring spoken language skills.

Examples

Bergeson, T., Pisoni, D., & Davis, R. (2005). Development of audiovisual comprehension skills in prelingually deaf children with cochlear implants. Ear and Hearing, 26, 149-164.

Academic text (2012)
Many children who are prelingually deaf learn to communicate using sign language instead of spoken words.
Teaching strategies for prelingually deaf students often focus on visual learning methods to enhance comprehension.

Surface Forms

prelingually positive

Morphology

prelingually = prelingual (semi-transparent) = pre + lingu + al + ly

This is a regular adverb formation from the adjective 'prelingual' with the standard suffix '-ly'.

Etymology

The word prelingually comes from pre- meaning 'before' and lingual from a root meaning 'tongue' or 'language', as in language and linguist. So prelingually means something that happens before a person learns language or can speak.