Podcast
Questions and Answers
What best describes the nature of language according to key concepts?
What best describes the nature of language according to key concepts?
Which of the following concepts relates to the ability to form meaningful sentences from language elements?
Which of the following concepts relates to the ability to form meaningful sentences from language elements?
Which term refers to the increased speed of vocabulary acquisition in children?
Which term refers to the increased speed of vocabulary acquisition in children?
How would overextension of language typically manifest?
How would overextension of language typically manifest?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary function of phonemes in language?
What is the primary function of phonemes in language?
Signup and view all the answers
What does metalinguistic awareness allow individuals to do?
What does metalinguistic awareness allow individuals to do?
Signup and view all the answers
What characterizes the term 'bilingualism'?
What characterizes the term 'bilingualism'?
Signup and view all the answers
Which example illustrates the concept of a morpheme?
Which example illustrates the concept of a morpheme?
Signup and view all the answers
What does syntax refer to in language?
What does syntax refer to in language?
Signup and view all the answers
What does 'overregularization' typically result in when children learn language?
What does 'overregularization' typically result in when children learn language?
Signup and view all the answers
At what age does the babbling stage of speech development typically begin?
At what age does the babbling stage of speech development typically begin?
Signup and view all the answers
What is 'telegraphic speech' characterized by?
What is 'telegraphic speech' characterized by?
Signup and view all the answers
What term describes the rapid growth of vocabulary starting around 18-24 months?
What term describes the rapid growth of vocabulary starting around 18-24 months?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following best defines fast-mapping?
Which of the following best defines fast-mapping?
Signup and view all the answers
What is suggested about optimal periods in language development?
What is suggested about optimal periods in language development?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the difference between productive and receptive vocabulary?
What is the difference between productive and receptive vocabulary?
Signup and view all the answers
What does overextension indicate in a child's language development?
What does overextension indicate in a child's language development?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following statements about optimal periods in language acquisition is true?
Which of the following statements about optimal periods in language acquisition is true?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT an example of a phoneme?
Which of the following is NOT an example of a phoneme?
Signup and view all the answers
What is overregularization in language development?
What is overregularization in language development?
Signup and view all the answers
What characterizes telegraphic speech?
What characterizes telegraphic speech?
Signup and view all the answers
What is metalinguistic awareness?
What is metalinguistic awareness?
Signup and view all the answers
What effect does bilingualism generally have on cognitive processes?
What effect does bilingualism generally have on cognitive processes?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a misconception about bilingualism's effect on vocabulary size?
What is a misconception about bilingualism's effect on vocabulary size?
Signup and view all the answers
What did Washoe demonstrate about animal language learning?
What did Washoe demonstrate about animal language learning?
Signup and view all the answers
Who is associated with the nativist theory of language acquisition?
Who is associated with the nativist theory of language acquisition?
Signup and view all the answers
Which theory posits that language acquisition occurs through reinforcement and imitation?
Which theory posits that language acquisition occurs through reinforcement and imitation?
Signup and view all the answers
What cognitive advantage is often linked to bilingualism?
What cognitive advantage is often linked to bilingualism?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Language Acquisition Key Concepts
- Language consists of symbols that convey meaning and rules for combining them, allowing for infinite communication.
- Language is symbolic, semantic (meaningful), generative (infinite variety), and structural (rules for arrangement).
- Phonemes are the smallest distinguishable speech units (e.g., English has approximately 40).
- Morphemes are the smallest units of meaning (e.g., English has approximately 50,000).
- Syntax defines the rules for arranging words into sentences. A sentence needs a subject and a verb.
- Optimal periods in language development exist for different components but are not rigidly defined.
Stages of Language Development
- Babbling begins around 4 months and involves the spontaneous production of sounds. The sounds often correlate with phonemes and later move toward language specific sounds.
- Productive and Receptive Vocabulary: Productive vocabulary is the ability to produce words while receptive is understanding words.
- Vocabulary spurt occurs around 18-24 months, showcasing rapid vocabulary growth. This growth is aided by fast-mapping, where children quickly connect words to concepts.
- Overextension occurs when a child uses a word too broadly (e.g., calling all round objects "ball").
- Under-extension is when a child uses a word too narrowly (e.g., only calling their favorite doll a "doll").
- Overregularization involves applying grammatical rules to irregular cases (like using "goed" instead of "went").
- Telegraphic speech consists mostly of content words with less important words omitted (e.g., "give ball").
Language Theories
- Behaviourist view: Language is learned through association, reinforcement, and conditioning.
- Nativist view (Chomsky): Children possess an innate language acquisition device (LAD) that facilitates language learning.
- Interactionist view: Biology and experience interact to enable language development.
- Cognitive theories view language as a part of general cognitive development.
- Social communication theories view language as crucial for social interaction.
- Emergentist theories posit language as arising from neural circuits via interactions.
Bilingualism
- Bilingualism, the acquisition of two languages, can impact language development in various ways (with research being inconclusive).
- Bilingual children may have smaller vocabularies, but combined across languages, their vocabulary can appear similar to or even greater than monolingual children.
- Bilingual exposure leads to enhanced cognitive abilities.
Animal Language
- Animals may develop forms of communication (e.g., ASL), but they lack the complexity and structure of human language.
Linguistic Relativity
- The hypothesis suggests that language influences thought processes and how people perceive the world (the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis).
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
This quiz covers fundamental concepts in language acquisition, including the nature of language, its symbolic elements, and stages of development. It delves into phonemes, morphemes, syntax, and the optimal periods for language learning. Test your understanding of how children acquire language skills.
