Language Acquisition Critical Period Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is the critical period hypothesis for language acquisition?

A biologically determined window of opportunity between birth and puberty during which the brain is prepared to develop language.

Why does the critical period provide an argument for the innateness of language?

We don't learn language the way we learn other complex things; it is not consciously learned or taught.

What is evidence for critical period effects in language acquisition?

Case studies of individual feral/abused children, second language acquisition evidence (e.g., Johnson & Newport 1989), deaf adults acquiring ASL, and Nicaraguan Sign Language.

What aspects of language can and cannot be acquired after the critical period?

Can acquire: Vocabulary and basic word order; Can't acquire: Verbal inflections, function words, and transformations. Signup and view all the answers

What is babbling in language development?

The stage of language development at about 4 months when an infant spontaneously utters nonsense sounds. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the holophrastic stage of language development?

Child produces one-word utterances that convey a complex message. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during the two-word stage of speech development?

Beginning about age 2, a child speaks mostly two-word statements. Signup and view all the answers

What defines the telegraphic stage of language development?

Early speech stage in which the child speaks using mostly nouns and verbs and omitting auxiliary words. Signup and view all the answers

What are universal listeners?

Children lose this ability around 8-10 months and totally lose it by around 1 year old. Signup and view all the answers

What is universal grammar according to Chomsky?

Chomsky's theory that no dialect or language is more complex or sophisticated; we are all born with the capacity to learn any language without formal instruction. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'poverty of the stimulus' refer to?

The idea that grammar is unlearnable because of the limited information available to children learning a language. Signup and view all the answers

What is overgeneralization in language acquisition?

Applying grammar rules in areas where they don't apply (e.g., 'I writed a story'; 'goed'; 'comed'). Signup and view all the answers

What are the phases of morphological acquisition?

Phases 1, 2, and 3 refer to the stages of a child's understanding and use of morphology. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between overextension and underextension in language acquisition?

Overextension is applying labels too broadly (e.g., any four-legged animal is a dog); underextension is using a word too narrowly (e.g., dog refers only to the family pet). Signup and view all the answers

What is the whole object principle in language acquisition?

Having the assumption that the entire object is being referenced, not just a part of it. Signup and view all the answers

What is the mutual exclusivity principle?

The assumption that only one label can be applied to each object. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Critical Period Hypothesis

Defines a biologically optimal window for language development from birth to puberty.
During this period, the brain is primed for acquiring language naturally.

Innateness Argument for Language

Language acquisition differs from learning other complex skills.
Language is not merely learned or taught, highlighting an innate ability.
Observations of biologically-constrained behaviors in animals support critical period effects.

Evidence for Critical Period Effects

Case studies of feral children like Genie, Isabelle, and Chelsea demonstrate challenges in language acquisition outside the critical period.
Research into second language acquisition shows significant age-related differences (Johnson & Newport, 1989).
Studies of deaf adults acquiring American Sign Language (Newport, 1990) provide additional support for the hypothesis.
Nicaraguan Sign Language illustrates how younger signers outperform older learners.

Genie Case Study

Demonstrated ability to acquire some linguistic features like plurals and basic vocabulary.
Struggled with syntax and complex language structures, indicating limitations of language acquisition beyond the critical period.

Deaf Adults and ASL

Research categorized learners (Native, Early, Late) revealing that Late Learners performed poorly compared to Native and Early Learners in ASL proficiency.

Language Acquisition After Critical Period

Can acquire: vocabulary and basic word order.
Cannot acquire: verbal inflections, function words, and transformational grammar structures.

Stages of Language Development

Babbling: Around 4 months, infants produce nonsensical sounds.
Holophrastic Stage: 12-18 months, single-word utterances conveying complex meanings.
Two-word Stage: Beginning at age 2, children form two-word combinations.
Telegraphic Stage: 24-36 months, characterized by essential nouns and verbs while omitting auxiliary words.

Universal Listeners

Infants possess the ability to discriminate a range of language sounds until about 8-10 months, with loss of this skill by one year.

Universal Grammar

Chomsky's theory posits all humans are inherently capable of learning any language without formal instruction, implying no language is inherently superior.

Poverty of the Stimulus

Suggests that the limited language input children receive is insufficient for them to learn complex grammar entirely.

Overgeneralization

Children often incorrectly apply grammatical rules, such as using "writed" or "goed," demonstrating the learning process in morphology.

Phases of Morphological Acquisition

Morphology acquisition progresses through distinct phases, though specifics were not detailed.

Overextension vs. Underextension

Overextension: Broad application of labels (e.g., calling all four-legged animals "dogs").
Underextension: Narrow application (e.g., using "dog" only for a specific pet).

Whole Object Principle

Assumes that names refer to entire objects instead of parts, guiding early language learners.

Mutual Exclusivity Principle

Belief that each object has a unique name, aiding vocabulary development in young children.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the critical period hypothesis for language acquisition. This quiz explores the biologically determined window of opportunity for language development and its implications for the innateness of language. Perfect for students studying language development.