THE RECEPTIVE EXPRESSIVE EMERGENT LANGUAGE SCALE (REELS)
Kenneth R. Bzoch and Richard League, 1971.
Age group: 0 month to 36 months
Age interval: 1 month in the first year
2 months in the second year
3 months in the third year
BRIEF DESCRIPTION: The scale is an implicit of a tri dimensional model of linguistic
behavior which emphasizes the process of receptive language, expressive language and inner
language. Receptive language refers to the unified activity of all the sensory-neural and
auditory-perceptual process that are involved in the decoding and understanding of oral
language. Expressive language refers to all of the process and skills that are involved in the
encoding of meaning into oral language for communicating with others. Inner language refers
to the relationship between the concepts as experienced through the mediation of linguistic
symbols by the central auditory recall and memory systems.
RATIONALE OF THE TEST:
Early differential diagnosis of major disorder affecting language development can be facilitated
by the use of this scale. Deafness, Mental retardation, Infantile Autism and other disorders
affecting emergent language can be readily identifiable in 1st or 2nd year when evaluated along
with other diagnostic information. The scale also reveals any differences that may exist
between the infants chronological age and his or her (1) Receptive language age ( RLA) (2)
Expressive language age (ELA) (3) Combined language age (CLA).
SCORING:
“+”:- only when the informant indicates the behavior is typical.
“–”:- only when the informant indicates the behavior is not observed.
“+/-”:- only when the behavior is emergent or only partially exhibited.
If the infant scores at least 2 pluses (+) at his one age level, the examiner should then proceed
to the next higher age interval. This process should be repeated until 2 minuses (-) are recorded
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within a given age interval. Then the highest age interval passed should be recorded. Once the
Receptive language age has been determined, then expressive language development should be
done. Scoring for the combined language age is defined as the arithmetic mean (X) of the RLA
and ELA.
CLA = (RLA + ELA)/2
Receptive quotient = (Receptive language age / combined age) x 100.
Expressive quotient = (Expressive language age / combined age) x 100.
Language quotient = (Combined language age / combined age) x 100.
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THE BZOCH-LEAGUE RECEPTIVE-EXPRESSIVE EMERGENT LANGUAGE
SCALE FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF LANGUAGE SKILLS IN INFANCY
Receptive Language Expressive Language
ZER0 TO ONE MONTH
R1. Startle response to loud sudden noises E1 Frequent crying
R2 Activity arrested when approached by E2. Begins random vocalizing other than
sound crying
R3 Often quieted by a familiar friendly voice E3 Vowel – like sounds similar to “E”
and “A”
ONE TO TWO MONTHS
R4 Frequently gives direct attention to other E4 Has a “special” cry for hunger
Voices
R5. Appears to listen to speaker E5 Sometimes repeats the same syllable
while Cooing and babbling
R6 Often looks at speaker and responds by E6 Develops vocal signs of pleasure
smiling
TWO TO THREE MONTHS
R7 Responds to speech by looking directly at E7 Occasionally responds to sound
speaker’s face stimulation or speech by vocalizing
R8 Regularly localizes speaker with eyes E8 When played with, laughs and uses
other vocal expression of pleasure
R9 Frequently watches lips and mouth of the E9 Often vocalize with two or more
Speaker different syllables
THREE TO FOUR MONTHS
R10 Turns head deliberately towards the E10 Often laughs during play with
source of the voice objects
R11 Looks about in search of speaker E11 Babbles (regularly repeats series of
same sounds, especially when alone)
R12 Usually frightened or disturbed by angry E12 Often uses sounds like “P” “B” or
Voices “M”
FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS
R13 Regularly localizes sources of voice with E13 Uses vowel like sounds similar to
accuracy “O”& “U”
R14 Recognizes and respond to his /her own E14 Expresses anger or displeasure by
name vocal pattern other than crying
R15 Usually stops crying when some one E15 Usually stops babbling in response
talks to him/her to vocal stimulation, but may
occasionally continue babbling for a
short time
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FIVE TO SIX MONTHS
R16 Appears by facial and bodily gestures E16 Takes the initiative in vocalizing and
to be able to distinguish general meaning babbling directly at others
of warning, anger and/or friendly voice
pattern
R17 Appears to recognize wards like “Daddy” E17 Occasionally vocalizes with 4 or
“Bye-bye” “mama” etc. more different syllable at one time
R18 Stops or withdraws response to ”No” E18 Plays at making sounds and noises
At least half of the time while alone orbit others
SIX TO SEVEN MONTHS
R19 Appears to recognize names of the family E19 Begins some 2 – syllable babbling
members in connected speech, even when (repeats combinations of 2 or more
the person named is not inside different sounds)
R20 Responds with appropriate gestures to E20 At least half of the time responds
words such as “come “”up” ”high” “ with vcalizations when called by
“bye-bye” etc. name
R21 Gives some attention to music or singing E21 Uses some words like vocal
expressions (appears to be naming
some things in his/her own
“language”)
SEVEN TO EIGHT MONTHS
R22 Frequently appears to listen to whole E22 Occasionally vocalizes in sentence
conversation between others like utterances without using true
words
R23 Regularly stops activity when his/her E23 Plays speech – gestures game like
name is called “pat-a-cake” or “peak-a-boo”
R24 Appears to recognize the names of some E24 Occasionally “ sings along” with
common objects when their names are some familiar songs or music
spoken without using true words
EIGHT TO NINE MONTHS
R25 Appears to understand some simple E25 Uses some gestures languages (such
verbal request as shaking head appropriately for
“No” etc
R26 Regularly stops activity in response to E26 Often mimics the sounds and
“No” number of syllable used in vocal
stimulation by others
R27 Will sustain interest for up to a full E27 Utterances now contain more
minute in looking at pictures if they are consonants than at the six - months
named stage
NINE TO TEN MONTHS
R28 Appears to enjoy listening to new words E28 Speaks first words often (da”-da”)
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“ma-ma”“Bye-Bye” or the name of
pet or a toy)
R29 Generally able to listen to speech without E29 Uses some exclamation like “oh-
being distracted by other sounds oh”
R30 Often given toys or other object to a E30 Often uses jargon(short sentence like
parent on verbal request utterances of 4 or more syllables
without true words)
TEN TO ELEVE N MONTHS
R31 Occasionally follows simple commands E31 Usually vocalizes in varied jargon
like “Put that down” patterns while playing alone
R32 Appears to understand simple question E32 Initiate speech-gestures games like
like “where is the ball”? “Pat-a-cake” or peek-a-boo”“
R33 Responds to rhythmic music by bodily E33 Occasionally tries to imitate new
or hand movements in approximate time words
to the music
ELEVEN TO TWELVE MONTHS
R34 Demonstrate understanding by responding E34 Uses 3 or more words with some
with appropriate gestures to several kinds consistency
of verbal requests
R35 Generally show intense attention and E35 ‘Talks” to toys and people
response to speech over prolonged periods throughout the day using long verbal
of time patterns
R36 Demonstrate understanding by making E36 Frequently responds to songs or
appropriate verbal responses to some rhymes by vocalizing
requests (for example “Say Bye-Bye”)
TWELVE TO FOURTEEN MONTHS
R37 Appears to understand some new words E37 Uses 5 or more words with some
each week consistency
R38 Seems to understand the psychological E38 Attempts to obtain desired objects
feeling and shades of meaning of most by using voice in conjunction with
speakers pointing and gesturing
R39 Will sustain interest for 2 or more minutes E39 Some true words now occur in
iIn looking at pictures if they are named jargon utterances.
FOURTEEN TO SIXTEEN MONTHS
R40 Demonstrate understanding by carrying E40 Consistently uses 7 or more true
out verbal request to select and bring words
some familiar object from another room
R41 Recognizes and identifies many E41 More frequent use of consonants
objects or pictures of object when they like “T” “W” “N” and “H”
are named.
R42 Clearly recognizes names of various E42 Most communication is now
parts of the body (such as hair, mouth, accomplished by using some true
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ears hands etc) words along with gestures.
SIXTEEN TO EIGHTEEN MONTHS
R43 Comprehends simple questions and E43 Begins using words rather than
carries out two consecutive directions gestures to express wants and needs
with a ball or other objects
R44 Remembers and associates new words by E44 Begins repeating words overheard in
categories (such as foods, clothing, conversation
animals etc.)
R45 From a single request identifies 2 or E45 Evidences a continual but gradual
more familiar objects from a group increase in speaking vocabulary.
of 4 or more familiar objects.
EIGHTEEN TO TWENTY MONTHS
R46 Upon verbal request points to several E46 Imitates some 2-words and 3-word
parts of the body and various items of sentences
clothing shown in large pictures
R47 Demonstrate understanding by E47 Imitates environmental sounds (such
appropriate responses to such action as motors animals, etc.) during play.
words (verb forms) as “sit down” “come
here” “stop that” etc.
R48 Demonstrate understanding of distinctions E48 Has a speaking vocabulary of at
in personal pronouns (such as ”give it to least 10 to 20 words
her” “give it to me” etc.
TWENTY TO TWENTYTWO MONTHS
R49 Follows a series of 2 or 3 very simple but E49 Begins combining words into simple
related commands. sentences (like “go” Bye-Bye”
“Daddy come” etc.)
R50 Recognizes new words daily at an ever E50 Speaks more and more new words
increasing rate each week
R51 Recognizes and identifies almost all E51 Attempts to tell about experiences
common objects and pictures of common using a combination of jargon and
objects when they are named some true words
TWENTY-TWO TO TWENTY-FOUR MONTHS
R52 Upon verbal request select an items from E52 Occasionally users 3 word sentences
a group of 5 or more varied items (such as “there it is” “Play with
(such as comb, spoon etc.) blocks” etc
R53 Appears to listen to meaning and reason E53 Refers to self by using his/her own
of language utterances, not just words name
or sounds
R54 Understand most complex sentences (for E54 Begins using some pronouns but
example “when we go to the stores I will makes errors in syntax
Buy you an ice cream”)
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TWENTY FOUR TO TWENTY SEVEN MONTHS
R55 Demonstrate an understanding of several E55 Usually uses 2-words or 3 word
action words appropriate pictures (for sentences
example correctly chooses which picture
shows eating.)
R56 When asked points to smaller parts of the E56 Often uses personal pronouns
body (such as chin elbow, eyebrow etc. correctly (I, You, he, it me etc.)
R57 Recognizes and identifies general family E57 Asks for help with some personal
name categories (such as baby grandma, needs (such as washing hands, going
mother etc to the toilet etc.
TWENTY SEVEN TO THIRTY MONTHS
R58 Demonstrates an understanding of words E58 Names at least one color correctly
association through functional
identification (correctly answers such
question as “What do you hear with”? “
what do you wear”? etc.)
R59 Understand s size differences (correctly) R59 Refers to self by using a pronoun
selects “the little doll” “the small book” rather than by his/her proper name
“the large bowl” etc from among a
group of similar objects.
R60 Recognize the names and picture of most E60 Repeats two or more number
common objects correctly
THRITY TO THIRTY-THREE MONTHS
R61 Demonstrate an understanding of all E61 Tolls gender when asked “Are you a
common verbs boy or a girl?
R62 Understands very long and complex E62 Names and talks about what he/she
sentences has scribbled or drawn when asked.
R63 Demonstrate an understanding of most E63 Gives both first and last name when
common adjectives asked
THRITY-THREE TO THIRTY SIX MONTHS
R64 Shows interest in explanations of “why E64 Regularly relates experiences from
things are” and “how things function” the recent past (what happened
while he/she was out or separated
from parents )
R65 Carries out three simple verbal commands E65 Uses several verbs forms correctly
given in one long utterance in relating what is going on in
action pictures
R66 Demonstrates on understanding of E66 Uses some plural forms correctly in
prepositions (such as on, under, front, speech
behind etc.
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RECEPTIVE AND EXPRESSIVE LANAGUAGE TEST (EXTENDED)
3 YEARS TO 3 ½ YEARS
RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE TEST EXRESSIVE LANAUGE TEST
R67 Comprehends ‘how much’ more and E67 Identifies 5 primary colors and names
the numerical marker test?
R68 Comprehends ‘no’ used to indicate E68 Uses cannot do not in on and plural
non-existence marker “S”
R69 Understand contrasts in third person E69 Has a vocabulary of more than 1000
singular pronouns words and uses he, she and they
R70 Comprehends first ordered E70 Uses three words sentences and is
Embedded Sentences. Show the nonfluent.
dog which is Running.
3 ½ YEARS TO 4 YEARS
R71 Points out animals, objects, foods E71 Uses verbs predominantly.
from a large group of others
pictures.
R72 Recognize time in pictures and all E72 Uses 3–4 words/sentence in nonfluent?
major colours.
R73 Comprehends simple present and E73 Identifies all major colors and names.
future present and future false with
feminine and masculine genders.
R74 Comprehends demonstrative nouns, E74 Uses simple present and future tense
this, that, there. with famine and masculine gender
markers.
R75 Comprehends comparison sentences. E75 Uses He – Remote/Proximate.
4 YEARS – 4 ½ YEARS
R76 Comprehends ‘How far’, ‘a little’, E76 Uses below, inside, on top, out, what,
‘all’ ‘afew’, ‘you both’. where, who, why shoes, how and no
R77 Comprehends simple test and past E77 Uses a little, fat, black She –
continuous tenses Remote/Proximate
R78 Comprehends causative verbal E78 Tends to enact in body posture and
sentences (Ex. I got it done by him) gestures what is told in story
R79 Comprehends questioned types non E79 Uses 4 words/sentences and is non-
questions (red house) fluent often uses or in a missing
R80 Comprehends noun/phrases. E80 Can narrate a story on his own.
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4 ½ YEARS - 5 YEARS
R81 Distinguishes between comparative/ E81 Uses simple past and past continuous
superlative degrees tenses
R82 Comprehends opposite concepts E82 Has a vocabulary of 1500-2500 words
“brother is boy” “sister is a girl” and is nonfluent
R83 Comprehends singular/plural contrast E83 Uses past irregular verbs (went, caught)
for nouns
R84 Comprehends prepositions “at side of E84 Uses all “wh” questions
in front of between
R85 Can identify most of the alphabets and E85 Uses “how much, infront of, white,
can discriminate appropriate picture in straight, that this, three, a, the
response to speech
R86 Can read all ht alphabets in his E86 Uses numbers up to 3 and can write all
language the letters of the alphabet
5 YEARS - 6 YEARS
R87 Comprehends quantative adjectives E87 Uses 5-6 words/sentence and influent
(pain, few, many)
R88 Comprehends verb number argument E88 Uses matte, a:me:le
“is vs are”
R89 Distinguishes between can/can not E89 Relative clauses are embedded with a
sentence to add further information
R90 Vocabulary of understanding about E90 Matches word to object
16,000 words
R91 Reading E91 Uses all ‘wh’ questions, yes questions &
Writing
6 YEARS - 7 YEARS
R92 Comprehends the meaning of ‘half’ E92 Uses 6-7 words/sentence
R93 Comprehends the meaning of E93 Uses double objective, noun phrases
st nd rd
quantity adjectives 1 , 2 , 3 last.
R94 Comprehends the quality adjectives E94 Uses coordinates with, and but even
(soft, fast…) though, if so
R95 Comprehends personal gender E95 Is fluent in his speech is intelligible
pronouns he, she, it
R96 Comprehends passive voice and E96 Can articulate all the sounds in his
future tense language.
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THE BZOCH-LEAGUE RECEPTIVE-EXPRESSIVE EMERGENT LANGUAGE
SCALE FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF LANGUAGE SKILLS IN INFANCY
Name: Case No. Age/Sex: Date:
Clinician:
Respective Language Expressive Language
ITEMS RESPONSE ITEMS RESPONSE ITEMS RESPONSE ITEMS RESPONSE
R1 R34 E1 E34
R2 R35 E2 E35
R3 R36 E3 E36
R4 R37 E4 E37
R5 R38 E5 E38
R6 R39 E6 E39
R7 R40 E7 E40
R8 R41 E8 E41
R9 R42 E9 E42
R10 R43 E10 E43
R11 R44 E11 E44
R12 R45 E12 E45
R13 R46 E13 E46
R14 R47 E14 E47
R15 R48 E15 E48
R16 R49 E16 E49
R17 R50 E17 E50
R18 R51 E18 E51
R19 R52 E19 E52
R20 R53 E20 E53
R21 R54 E21 E54
R22 R55 E22 E55
R23 R56 E23 E56
R24 R57 E24 E57
R25 R58 E25 E58
R26 R59 E26 E59
R27 R60 E27 E60
R28 R61 E28 E61
R29 R62 E29 E62
R30 R63 E30 E63
R31 R64 E31 E64
R32 R65 E32 E65
R33 R66 E33 E66
RLA: ELA: CLA:
Staff I/c
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