Unity Vocabulary

  • Published on Nov 12, 2025
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Key Terms

Unity is a way to organize the English language that is unique to PRC-Saltillo devices. It is primarily based on the single words we say most often. It grows from early first words to adult language. It has two versions: 1-Hit and Sequenced.

4/8/15/28/36/45/60/84/144 – The numbers refer to the number of keys that are on the screen. Don’t assume that versions with fewer keys on the home screen are easier. Work with a speech pathologist, AAC Specialist, and/or PRC-Saltillo Regional Consultant to help you decide where to start.

Core Vocabulary – Core vocabulary includes the most commonly used words—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.

Core Keys – In Unity 28/36/45 1-Hit or Sequenced, the entire home screen is core with a few exceptions. In Unity 60/84/144 1-Hit or Sequenced, everything but the top row is core.

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. Fringe vocabulary is found in the activity row.

Activity Row – In Unity 28/36/45 1-Hit or Sequenced, the activity row (top row) appears after you select a core key. It houses nouns. In Unity 60/84/144 1-Hit or Sequenced, the activity row (top row) appears on the home screen as well as after you select a core key. Home screen activities house quick phrases and tools. Fringe words appear after you select a core key.

Unity 4/8/15*/28/36/45/60/84/144 1-Hit – The core keys in these vocabularies speak immediately when selected, and the activity row changes to nouns/ words that may follow that core word. The only word ending is plural “s”. This vocabulary can be simplified by using hide and show. *There is an extra area called 15 phrase. It is for simple phrase-based communication.

Unity 28/36/45/60/84/144 Sequenced – The core keys in these vocabularies do not speak immediately when selected, but rather lead to other words associated with that icon. Thousands of words are pre-programmed, and all word endings are represented. This is a robust vocabulary that gives access to adult forms of grammar. This vocabulary can be greatly simplified (using Vocabulary Builder) for beginning communicators.

Unity Sequenced - Organizational Structure

Note: Examples are from Unity 84 Sequenced – the most popular version.

  1. Unity Sequenced is organized in layers. The top layer is always the starting point. This allows for the pattern of a word to remain consistent.

  2. The top layer has several high-frequency words that can be said with 1-Hit, indicated by lower case labels on the keys. In 84, these are: are/is/were/was/on/to/a/an/the.

     

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

  4. The KEYBOARD key goes to a keyboard for spelling your thoughts.

Tip: You can search for a word using Word Finder. Word Finder is located in different places depending on the version of Unity you are using. Enter the word you want to find. Select OK. Select Guide Me. If the word is not in Unity, it will tell you “no matches found”.

Unity Pattern 1: Verbs, Adjectives, Category Nouns

  1. Start with any colored icon in the Core area (for example, APPLE).  When you select it, get more words associated with that icon (in this case, words related to eating: eat, hungry, food).

  2. Colors are important on the 2nd layer.

    GREEN = verb

    BLUE = adjective

    ORANGE = category noun

  3. Placement is also important on the 2nd layer. Try another icon (for example, JUICE), and notice the verbs, adjectives, and category nouns are always in the same place (drink, thirsty, beverage).

  4. Usually there is a 3rd layer. There are additional verbs, adjectives, and nouns associated with the core icon. For example, the words bite, chew, taste, feed, delicious, crunchy and fresh are also associated with the APPLE. You can tell there is a 3rd layer because the 2nd key is grey with a label in all caps.

Unity Pattern 2: Nouns

Nouns are found in the activity row (top row) after you select a core icon.

  sentences

 colors/art supplies

  school

 body parts/ toiletries

  games

 technology

  jokes

 rooms

 jobs/tools

 medical

 money

 vehicles

 feelings/actors

 toys/containers

 reading material

 clothes

 instruments /music

 food

 sports

 computer

 family/people

 holidays/shapes

 animals

 weather/negative

 time

 drinks

 accessories

 TV

 places

 dishes/ large appliances

 nature

 furniture/linens

Unity Pattern 3: Pronouns

The pronouns are color-coded yellow.

  1. Subject pronouns (for example, I/ you/ it). Select the corresponding yellow pronoun 2 times.

  2. Object pronouns (for example, me/ him/ them). Select the pronoun key then the present.   

  3. Possessive adjectives (for example, my/ his/ their). Select the pronoun key then nametag.    

  4. Reflexive pronoun (for example, myself/ himself/ themselves). Select the present then pronoun.

  5. Possessive pronoun (for example, mine/ his/ theirs). Select the nametag then the pronoun.

Unity Pattern 4: Pronoun Phrases

  1. Positive pronoun statements – Select the pronoun key and then the phrase to the right.  

    I can

    You like

  1. Negative pronoun statements – Select the pronoun key, then NOT, and then the negative phrase.

    I can’t

    You don’t like

  1. Pronoun questions – Start with the corresponding core icon and then move to the left to get the pronoun question.

    Can I

    Do you like

  1. Negative pronoun questions – Start with the corresponding core icon, then NOT, and then the pronoun.

    Can’t I

    Don’t you like

Unity Pattern 5: Grammar Words

These words start with the black and white icons in the 2nd row.  

  1. Helping Verbs – Start with . These words help a main verb. Words like can/ will/ should.

  2. Interjections – Start with . These words pop into conversation like fireworks pop into the sky. Words like awesome/ yuck/ hello.

  3. Determiners – Start with . The wizard is using his wand to point to this/ that/ these/ those.

  4. Conjunctions – Start with . Conjunctions join words together like the trains are joined together. Words like and/ but/ because.

  5. Prepositions – Start with . The cloud can go over/ under/ through the bridge.

  6. Question Words – Start with . Words like who/ what/ when/ where/ why.

  7. Adverbs – Start with  . Words like very/ again/ ready.

Tips:

  • Learners do not need to graduate through each level of Unity. For example, beginning communicators can start at Unity 84 Sequenced and use Vocabulary Builder to initially limit the number of words available.

  • Register for a variety of live online AAC implementation classes at: prentrom.com/training/go/implementation_classes

  • Find a vast library of teaching/therapy materials at: AACLanguageLab.com

  • Monitor progress and language growth at: realizelanguage.com  

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