Unidad Vocabulary

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Applicable software: NuVoice®, Empower®

Unidad – A Bilingual Minspeak System

Minspeak® is a way to organize vocabulary that is unique. It is based primarily on the single words we say most often. Available in 1-hit and sequenced versions, the Unidad 84-, 60-, 36-, and 28-key vocabularies have been designed to meet the needs of bilingual augmented communicators who need access to both English and Spanish. In the sequenced vocabularies, words are selected by combining symbols into short sequences. Every word is part of a pattern in the Unidad® language system. This guide uses Unidad 84 as an example.

Toggle Between English and Spanish

The English and Spanish vocabularies are contained within two separate user areas. There is a key in the top row, or activity row, that toggles between the two.

Key Terms

Core Vocabulary – Core vocabulary includes the most commonly used words in English/Spanish—they are used regardless of topic, situation, communication partner, age, or disability of the communicator. Individuals must have access to core vocabulary to get their message across.

Fringe Vocabulary – Fringe vocabulary consists all parts of speech, but is made up largely of nouns. Fringe vocabulary tends to be more specific to a topic or situation, such as a basketball game or an art project. It might also be different from communicator to communicator.

Activity Row – The top row, or activity row, of Unidad 84 includes quick phrases, tools, and categories of fringe words. It is dynamic, in that it changes depending on which key is selected.

Unidad 84 Patterns

1. Unidad 84 is organized in patterns. Every word can be accessed starting with a core symbol. The highest frequency words in each language can be said with one hit, indicated by lowercase labels on the keys. In English, these words are:  not/are/is/was/were/on/to/of/a/an/the.
   In Spanish, these words are: no/lo/el/la/los/las/se/que/a/de.

2. The +s key adds an “s” to the end of the last word on the display (for example, for plurals).

   

   

Unidad 84 Pattern 1: Verbs, Adjectives, Category Nouns

1. Press any core symbol (for example, “APPLE”) in the core vocabulary. Various symbols of different colors will appear.

2. Background colors indicate parts of speech.

   GREEN = verb

   BLUE = adjective

   ORANGE = category noun

3. Try another symbol (for example, DICE or SHOE) and notice that the verbs, adjectives, and category nouns are always in the same place. This consistency among words in each part of speech helps the augmented communicator learn the language system.

4. The highest frequency vocabulary is accessed by selecting a core symbol and a part of speech key. However, the combination of two core symbols and a part of speech key allows for access to a much larger vocabulary set. If the symbol sequence includes a second core symbol, that symbol will show an uppercase label.

5. In English, a symbol sequence for a verb will end on a verb key. In Spanish, a symbol sequence for a verb will often end on a pronoun key.

Unidad 84 Pattern 2: Nouns

Nouns are found in the activity row after you select a core symbol. Below are the categories associated with each symbol in Unidad 84.

Unidad Pattern 3: Pronouns

The pronouns are color-coded yellow.

1. Subject pronouns (for example: I/we). Select the corresponding yellow pronoun 2 times.

   I
   we

2. Object pronouns (for example: me/us). Select the pronoun key then the present (OBJ).

   me
   us

3. Possessive adjectives (for example: my/our). Select the pronoun key then nametag (POSS).

   my
   our

4. Possessive pronouns (for example: mine/ours). Select the nametag (POSS) then the pronoun key.

   mine
   ours

5. Reflexive pronouns (English only) (for example: myself/ourselves). Select the present (OBJ) then the pronoun.

   myself
   ourselves

Unidad Pattern 4 (English Only): Pronoun Verb Phrases

1. Positive Pronoun Statements (for example: I can/you have)

   Select the pronoun key then the core symbol to the right with the target phrase. The pattern will be consistent across pronouns (for example: “I can” and “you can” have the same 2^nd symbol).

   I can
   you have

2. Negative Pronoun Statements (for example: I can’t/you haven’t)

   Select the pronoun key, the NOT symbol, and then the core symbol to the right with the target phrase.

   I can’t
   you haven’t

3. Pronoun Questions (for example: can I?/have you?)

   Start with the core symbol associated with the target phrases and then the pronoun to access the pronoun question.

   can I?
   have you?

4. Negative Pronoun Questions (for example: can’t I?/haven’t you?)

   Start with the core symbol associated with the target phrase, then the NOT symbol, then the pronoun.

   can’t I?
   haven’t you?

Unidad 84 Pattern 5: Grammar Words

The sequences for these words are two hits, starting with the black and white symbols on the second row of the home screen and ending on core symbols.

1. Interjections: Begin with . They are words or phrases that are produced quickly, often with strong emotion; for example, “sorry, please.”

2. Determiners: Begin with , which we call the wizard. He uses his wand to point to “this, that, these, and those.”

3. Conjunctions: Begin with . Conjunctions (for example, and, but) join words together like the train cars are joined together. This key also gives quick access to numbers/math words because some children like to count train cars.

4. Prepositions: Begin with  . The cloud may go “over or under” the bridge.

5. Questions: Begin with  . Examples include words like “what, when, where.”

6. Helping Verbs (English only): Begin with  . Positive and negative forms of verbs such as “be/can/will/would/could/should.”

7. Adverbs: Begin with  . Adverbs describe actions, for example, "again, now, almost.”

Tip:  You can search for a word using Word Finder.        

1. On the main activity row, select then .

2. Type the word you are looking for and then select OK.

3. Select Guide Me. The software will show you where the word is. If the word is not programmed in the Unidad software, you will receive a message “No results found.”

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