Have you tried using baby sign language? Auslan or anything like that. DD has just started saying her first proper word (cat) because every time we see one of the cats, we point and say "cat!" and do the cat sign. She now attempts to do the sign (a bit tricky) and says "CAT" or sometimes of she's tired or excited "DAT" when she sees a cat, which is great. We also taught her water and milk (just the signs, she doesn't say them yet), which she uses all the time and helps us avoid tantrums when she wants something. We're now teaching her poo and hungry, and eventually tired too, although those concepts are more abstract.