Tonsing, Kerstin MonikaDada, Shakila2022-05-042023Tönsing, K.M., & Dada, S. (2023). Learning graphic symbols in two languages: Effects of monolingual teaching. International Journal of Speech‐Language Pathology, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 281-291, https://doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2022.2048889.1754-9507 (print)1754-9515 (online)10.1080/17549507.2022.2048889https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/85023PURPOSE : Limited research exists to guide augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) intervention for children from multilingual backgrounds. When a graphic symbol-based AAC system is provided to children, they need to learn the meaning of the graphic symbols. This study determined the effect of teaching the association between a graphic symbol and a spoken word in one language on the ability of bilingual children without disabilities to transfer this learning to their second language. METHOD : A one-group pre-test-post-test design was used. The ability of 30 English-Afrikaans bilingual children aged 4–5 years to provide the spoken words associated with nine graphic symbols in English and Afrikaans was evaluated before and after teaching them the symbol-word associations in English. RESULTS : Correct symbol-word associations in English increased from a median of 0–9 post-teaching, while correct symbol-word associations in Afrikaans increased from a median of 0–6. A moderate positive relationship was identified between children’s performance on symbol-word associations in Afrikaans during the post-test and their use of Afrikaans in the home. CONCLUSION : Results suggest the presence of positive transference of graphic symbol-word associations learnt in one language to another known language. The implications of this finding on the provision of multilingual AAC intervention are discussed.en© 2021 Taylor & Francis Group. This is an electronic version of an article published in International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 281-291, 2023. doi : 10.1080/17549507.2022.2048889. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology is available online at : http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/iasl20.Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)MultilingualChildGraphic symbolMonolingual teachingPostprint Article