Speaking is practice in Vygotsky’s sense

The sounds of the word “dog” are not a dog. Using “dog” to represent a dog is using something to represent something it is not . That is an arbitrary relation between the word “ dog“ and actual dogs. That’s a symbolic sign in semiotics. An indexical sign has a natural or necessary relation between sign and thing signified ; like smoke is an indexical sign of fire . Speaking the word “dog” is behavior, action ,practice , doing something. Vygotsky’s theory of language acquisition focuses on behavior or practice- learning language through behavior-practice, but doesn’t seem to include speaking ( and listening ) as a practice through which language is learned . But speaking imitating adult speakers is the main way that children learn language .