What is the difference between receptive and expressive language?
Receptive language is the language that an individual understands. Receptive tasks include being able to identify objects and actions, act out (follow directions), and make judgments about the appropriateness of a word or a sentence. Expressive language is the language that an individual produces. Expressive language begins with the use of gestures and sounds and progresses up to production of sentences within conversation. Alternative forms of expressive language may include use of sign language or augmentative supports such as pictures or high-tech voice output devices.
