Introduction
While children acquire several skills during their development, speech is one of the most important ones, as it drastically improves the quality of communication both to the outside world and the self. Private speech is one of the most important factors connected to the formation of verbal capabilities. As Vygotsky (Cashion et al., 2019) described, private speech is necessary for planning and other mental activities that are crucial for further formation. Therefore, private speech is a central factor of future spiritual development as it performs actions like planning, learning, communication, and internal analysis.
The Role of Private Speech in Development
Private speech is especially crucial in understanding how significant the effect of a well-developed verbal interaction is for a young person. It outlines the task solutions presented before the child and is not utilized for communication with others (Cashion et al., 2019). This private conversation may be compared to an internal monologue or, in terms of spirituality, a prayer. Therefore, the mechanisms of private speech may be redirected into a religious field and provide insight into how people address God in trying times. These internal instructions are powerful as they provide guidance and declare the person’s intentions while representing the task’s complexity.
The ability to read words and process them internally is called reading. It is essential to notice that children utilize private speech to analyze the written material and add it to their worldview (Levlin & Waldman, 2020). Therefore, problems with that skill may result in future opinion formation and personality development issues. These are crucial for spiritual development as they set directions on personal morals and the connection between a person and higher powers.
Daniel 1:17 states, “As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” (King James Bible, 2023). This shows how vital the comprehension of the written word is for spiritual growth. Thus, private speech affects reading, which in turn affects personal spirituality.
Private speech is utilized to internalize the new information received from others through communication. A dialogue between a child and their parent affects their worldview the most, as adults can explain things that surround the family and how different things interact. The results of these communications are processed by the young people internally through private speech.
Proper skills in understanding spoken words and drawing conclusions will make development more productive and let the brain hold more information (Okumoto, 2019). Thus, a more complex picture of the outside world will form in a child’s brain, forming his opinions of unseen links and higher factors such as God. This shows how proper development through private speech analysis is necessary for spiritual awakening.
Private speech is also used for the passive analysis of the surrounding world. A study by Linask (2023) describes how an earlier form of private speech called crib speech includes language play, a verbal illustration of what a child sees and feels. This behavior is similar to poetry writing, which is essential for personal development at that age. It inspires a child to explore the world more and find what a future person will like or dislike. That includes non-physical phenomena like beauty, comfort, or safety, vital for spiritual development. Therefore, crib speech is essential for forming associations and the earliest opinions that will affect future personality and spirituality.
Conclusion
In conclusion, private speech is essential to a child’s spiritual development. It provides planning methods while solving tasks and affects reading skills, communication, and analysis. These factors are necessary for proper spiritual development in the future as they are crucial in self-discovery and worldview formation. They let people comprehend complex concepts like higher power, God, or morals. Therefore, thinking aloud should be seen as a normal stage in a child’s life, contributing to their mental self-discovery.
References
Cashion, V., Shriner, B., Shriner, M., & Mossler, R. (2019). Lifespan 360: Christian perspectives on human development: Christian perspectives on human development (2nd ed.). Kendall Hunt Publishing.
King James Bible. (2023). Bible Gateway. Web.
Levlin, M., & Waldmann, C. (2020). Written language in children with weak reading skills: the role of oral language, phonological processing, verbal working memory and reading. L1 Educational Studies in Language and Literature, 20, 1–25. Web.
Linask, L. (2023). Autocommunication in crib speech and private speech. Semiotica, 2023(250), 67–90. Web.
Okumoto, Y. (2019). Enlivening thinking and speech in search of spiritual identity: the role of ‘speech formation’ in Steiner’s Waldorf education. International Journal of Children s Spirituality, 24(1), 83–96. Web.