Child Language Acquisition Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is the main focus of the 'following in order to lead' approach in teaching children language?

Guiding children’s discovery of language (correct)

Setting strict rules for language usage

Overloading children with new vocabulary

Encouraging children to talk less

In the IRF model, what does the 'F' stand for?

Facilitation

Feedback (correct)

Follow-up

Follow through

What are the two cognitive skills that children possess according to Tomasello's usage-based theory?

Memory retention and observation

Imitation and repetition

Listening and speaking

Intention-reading and pattern-finding (correct)

Which of the following is an example of a directing exchange?

Teacher: Please open your textbooks. Signup and view all the answers

Which dimension is NOT part of Tomasello's usage-based theory of language acquisition?

Philosophical dimension Signup and view all the answers

Which exchange type involves students responding with an optional follow-up dialogue?

Informing exchange Signup and view all the answers

The interactions in the IRF model primarily take place between which two parties?

Teachers and students Signup and view all the answers

Which of Halliday's functions of language is primarily used to convey desires?

Instrumental Signup and view all the answers

How does intention-reading as described in Tomasello's theory help children?

By allowing them to determine adult speakers' goals Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of ‘eliciting exchanges’ in the classroom?

To encourage critical thinking and engagement Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of the regulatory function of language?

"You must finish your homework" Signup and view all the answers

Why should parents not use deliberate methods to teach children to talk?

It may overwhelm the child with information Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the 'IRF' model in terms of classroom interaction?

It emphasizes a cyclical pattern of engagement Signup and view all the answers

Which approach does Halliday’s functions of language align with regarding children’s language use?

Functional approach Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of ‘pattern-finding’ in language acquisition as described by Tomasello?

To extract abstract linguistic schemas from utterances Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements correctly describes an aspect of Halliday's functions of language?

The imaginative function allows for creativity in expressions Signup and view all the answers

How does positive reinforcement impact a child's development of expressive language skills?

It strengthens the child's inclination to communicate effectively. Signup and view all the answers

What role does negative reinforcement play in a child’s language use?

It prompts the child to refine their linguistic expressions based on feedback. Signup and view all the answers

Noam Chomsky's concept of the language acquisition device (LAD) suggests that children are:

Biologically prewired to detect and acquire language features. Signup and view all the answers

How do children learn to modify their verbal expressions according to the feedback they receive?

Through a combination of positive and negative reinforcement. Signup and view all the answers

In what way does praise function within a child's language development?

It reinforces the connection between effective language use and positive recognition. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential consequence of a lack of acknowledgment for a child's verbal expressions?

It can lead to confusion and hinder language development. Signup and view all the answers

Which feature is NOT part of Chomsky's language acquisition device according to his theory?

Cognitive reasoning skills Signup and view all the answers

According to Halliday's functions of language, which function is primarily focused on expressing personal feelings and attitudes?

Personal function Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Child Language Acquisition Table of Contents

Stages of Child Language Acquisition
Stages of Cognitive Development - Jean Piaget
The development of children's understanding of grammar
Vygotsky's Sociocultural Cognitive Theory
B. F. Skinner's theory of operant conditioning
Sinclair's Initiation-Response-Feedback Model (1975)
Tomasello's usage-based theory (2003)
Halliday's functions of language (1975)
Halliady's theory of child language learning (1975)
Barry Kroll's Theory of writing development (1981)
Joan Rothery's (1994) 4 categories for evaluating children's writing
Aitchison's Stages of Children's Linguistic Development (1987)
Glossary

Stages of Child Language Acquisition

Pre-Linguistic (0-6 months): Noises include crying, whimpering, and cooing; these are involuntary responses to stimuli, not considered true language
Babbling (6-8 months): Child hears speech syllables and tries to imitate and repeat them; two types: canonical/repetitive babbling (repeating the same syllables) and variegated babbling (using a variety of syllables).
Universality of Babbling Inventory: All children produce similar sounds when babbling, irrespective of the language spoken around them.
Universality of Bubbling Inventory: A universal tendency across language families for children to babble similar sounds, regardless of the specific language the child is exposed to.
Think of the words: In this stage, children start using the words for items and caregivers.

Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development

Piaget's theory posits four stages of cognitive development, with each stage representing a distinct way of understanding the world, from birth to adulthood.
Schemas: Actions or mental representations that organise knowledge and understanding.
Assimilation: Incorporating new information into existing schemas; for example a toddler might initially call all vehicles “cars”
Accommodation: Modifying or creating new schemas to accommodate new information.

Vygotsky's Sociocultural Cognitive Theory

Vygotsky's theory stresses the importance of social learning.
More Knowledgeable Other (MKO): Someone with greater knowledge or ability than the learner; this is a facilitator for the child.
Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD): The area between what a child can do independently and what they can do with guidance or help from a knowledgeable partner.

B.F. Skinner's Theory of Operant Conditioning

Children imitate the language of their caregivers.
Successful attempts are reinforced by the caregivers; unsuccessful attempts aren't.

Tomasello's Usages-Based Theory

Language structure emerges from language use, drawing on general cognitive skills
Children develop understanding of the intentions of others and the patterns in language.

Halliday's Functions of Language

Instrumental function: Language is used to fulfil needs
Regulatory function: Directing or persuading others
Interactional function: Establishing relationships
Personal function: Expressing emotions and personality
Heuristic function: Investigating the world
Imaginative function: Creating fictional scenarios
Representational function: Sharing information

Barry Kroll's Theory of Writing Development

Stage 1: Preparatory: Child masters basic motor and spelling skills.
Stage 2: Consolidation (up to age 6): Child writes similarly to speaking, declarative and incomplete sentences.
Stage 3: Differentiation (up to age 9): Child identifies different writing styles and structures.
Stage 4: Integration (12 and above): Child develops a personal writing style.

Joan Rothery's Categories for Evaluating Children's Writing

Observation/comment: Making an observation and adding an evaluation.
Recount: Chronological sequence of events.
Report: Factual description of events.
Narrative: Story structure.

Aitchison's Stages of Children's Linguistic Development

Labelling: Connecting sounds with objects e.g., "Mummy" for mother.
Packaging: Understanding the range of a word’s meaning and where these can be applied.
Network Building: Understanding similarities and opposites in meaning.

Sinclair and Coulthard's Initiation-Response-Feedback Model

A framework for analysing classroom discourse.
Initiates with the teacher and then responses from the student.
Lastly, provides feedback from the teacher.

Tomasello's Usage-Based Theory

Language is structured through use and drawing on general cognitive skills.
Intentions and patterns in language are identified.

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Description

Explore the stages of child language acquisition and understand key theories related to cognitive and language development. This quiz covers the insights of prominent figures such as Piaget, Vygotsky, and Skinner, as well as various developmental models. Test your knowledge of how children learn language and the factors that influence their linguistic abilities.