What lies beyond the words we speak? Hosted by speech-language pathologist, musician, and communication PhD student Garrett Oyama, this podcast explores the rich space where communication, music, neuroscience, and creativity converge. Through conversations, sound, and story, we go beyond the clinical and into the poetic dimensions of human connection.
Each episode of Beyond Words is worth 0.10 ASHA CEU when you complete the accompanying course on www.speechtherapypd.com.
How Visual Experience Shapes Concepts and Language with Bria Long
9 Oct 2026
Where Does Grammar Come From? | Tomasello’s Theory Explained
Join the salon discussion on Oct. 16th! https://forms.gle/YS7bbZjLNXD3dFTK9 (https://forms.gle/YS7bbZjLNXD3dFTK9)
In this Beyond Words solo episode, I try and break down Michael Tomasello’s usage-based account of language development and the idea that grammar may be less like a rulebook and more like a collection of cultural tools that children learn through interacting with other people.
Tomasello’s answer brings together intention reading, pattern finding, linguistic constructions, joint attention, and joint agency. We look at why constructions themselves carry meaning, how children discover roles within utterances, and how the roles and perspectives involved in human cooperation may provide part of the cognitive foundation for grammar.
This video builds on my recent Beyond Words conversation with Michael Tomasello: https://youtu.be/H0En9S8NmSk?si=dNnZ3nD3ZjDFVJzM (https://youtu.be/H0En9S8NmSk?si=dNnZ3nD3ZjDFVJzM)
📚 References
Tomasello, M. (2003). Constructing a Language: A Usage-Based Theory of Language Acquisition. Harvard University Press.
Tomasello, M. (2024). Agency and Cognitive Development. Oxford University Press.
Tomasello, M., & Barton, M. E. (1994). Learning words in nonostensive contexts. Developmental Psychology, 30(5), 639–650.
Beyond Words explores the science of language, communication, cognition, and development through conversations with leading researchers and clinicians. Reach out if you'd like to join the community! https://forms.gle/YS7bbZjLNXD3dFTK9 (https://forms.gle/YS7bbZjLNXD3dFTK9)
8 Oct 2026
How Children Learn Emotion Words with Nikhita Prabhu
Beyond Words Ep. 28 | Learning the Invisible: How Children Learn Emotion Words with Nikhita Prabhu, MA
In this episode of Beyond Words, host Garrett Oyama, MS, CCC-SLP, and UCLA developmental psychology researcher Nikhita Prabhu, MA, examine how children learn emotion words and other abstract concepts. How does a child learn what “jealous” means? Unlike a word like “dog,” there isn’t one thing a caregiver can simply point to. Learning emotion words requires children to connect language with facial expressions, behaviors, situations, bodily experiences, causes, and other information that may not be directly observable.
Join the Beyond Words Newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/d83ab68ea1db/slp-signup
Get ASHA CEUs: Speech Therapy PD - https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/learning-the-invisible
Mentioned in this episode:
Beyond Words SLP Salon
Sign up here: https://forms.gle/YS7bbZjLNXD3dFTK9
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Contact Beyond Words with Garrett Oyama
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
