Language Development and Semantics Quiz

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Questions and Answers

How many morphemes are in the word 'unlovable'?

3 (correct)

What is the main focus of semantics in language?

Meaning of language (correct)

Structure of sentences

Social context of language use

Sound patterns in language

Which of the following statements is true regarding syntactical structure?

Syntax does not change in passive voice.

Syntax is unrelated to meaning.

Different semantics can occur with the same syntax. (correct)

Syntax determines the number of morphemes in a word.

What aspect of language is referred to as 'prosodics'?

The 'music' of language Signup and view all the answers

At what age do infants typically begin the babbling stage of language development?

6-10 months Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by ‘pragmatics’ in language studies?

Using language appropriately in context Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the relationship between comprehension and production in language learning?

Comprehension precedes production. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about deaf children during babbling is accurate?

They babble manually using sign language at the same time. Signup and view all the answers

What is the phenomenon called when a baby uses a single word to express a whole thought or sentence?

Holophrases Signup and view all the answers

What typically occurs during the 'word explosion' phase in young children?

A sudden increase in the number of words learned Signup and view all the answers

What is 'naming insight' in the context of language development?

Realization that words can label objects Signup and view all the answers

How do infants learn words most effectively?

When they interact while hearing the word Signup and view all the answers

What does the reference problem refer to in language acquisition?

How a child identifies what an object is based on a word Signup and view all the answers

What is one solution for infants facing the reference problem?

Contextual clues provided by caregivers Signup and view all the answers

During which age range do children typically reach a productive vocabulary of about 50 words?

2 years Signup and view all the answers

What has recent evidence suggested about the vocabulary spurt?

It is a gradual quadratic increase without defined stages. Signup and view all the answers

What does the hypothesis regarding within-word syllables suggest?

Within-word syllables are more common in language acquisition. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary finding from Saffran, Aslin, & Newport (1996) regarding 8-month-olds?

They picked up on statistical regularities for word boundaries. Signup and view all the answers

In the preferential looking paradigm by Kuhl & Meltzoff (1984), what do infants demonstrate?

They can differentiate between sounds visually. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect does 'talker-specific information' refer to?

Distinguishing between what is said and who is speaking. Signup and view all the answers

What was observed in the study by Fecher & Johnson (2019) regarding language familiarity?

They looked longer at new speakers speaking in their native language. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT listed as a way infants learn language?

Imitating adult speech patterns Signup and view all the answers

What is described as an elementary unit of sound related to speech perception?

Phoneme Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic of speech perception is emphasized in the concept of categorical perception?

Differentiating continuous sounds as discrete categories. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the term 'protoconversations' in infant communication?

Early forms of dialogue between infants and caregivers. Signup and view all the answers

Which concept explains how infants learn to categorize language sounds during the early stages of development?

Categorical speech perception. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the 'still face' paradigm in developmental psychology?

It tests if infants can engage in social interactions. Signup and view all the answers

What does the 'use it or lose it' phenomenon refer to in language development?

The ability of infants to forget sounds not used in their environment. Signup and view all the answers

What role do social contingencies play in infant communication?

They establish rules for interaction and turn-taking. Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated number of words spoken to children from professional families by the age of four?

45 million Signup and view all the answers

Which method is NOT commonly used to evaluate infants' perceptions during studies?

Facial recognition. Signup and view all the answers

How do infants typically respond to contingent social signals during interactions?

They actively adjust their behavior based on responses. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes telegraphic speech?

Combining nouns and verbs in a simplified manner Signup and view all the answers

According to the interactionist view, what primarily shapes language acquisition?

Social interaction and communication Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the research conducted by Jenny Saffran and colleagues?

How infants can identify word boundaries through statistical regularities. Signup and view all the answers

What does Chomsky argue about the nature of language?

It is a universal and innate feature of humans. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of language acquisition does Skinner's behaviorism emphasize?

Reinforcement and operant conditioning Signup and view all the answers

Which example best illustrates the idea of 'shaping' in language learning?

A parent reacting positively to a child's verbal approximations Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase ‘colorless green ideas sleep furiously’ illustrate in terms of language?

The value of grammatical structures over meaning Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is considered more important in language development, the number of different words or the sheer number of words spoken?

The different types of words used Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'motherese' in the context of language development?

A form of speech characterized by exaggerated high pitch and long pauses. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of speech do infants particularly prefer according to the studies on motherese?

Motherese, or infant-directed speech. Signup and view all the answers

How do infants parse the speech stream to identify words and phrases?

Using prosody and contextual cues. Signup and view all the answers

What type of speech is often used by adults when communicating with children?

Infant-directed speech or motherese. Signup and view all the answers

Which groups are known to utilize motherese according to the content discussed?

Adults with children and pets, including fathers. Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the main findings of Fernald's research on motherese?

Infants as young as four months turn to hear motherese. Signup and view all the answers

What challenge do infants face when trying to parse speech in an unfamiliar language?

Identifying words and phrases becomes particularly hard. Signup and view all the answers

What do researchers believe about the development of infants' language skills?

It is over-determined by multiple factors. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction to Language Development

Language development is a complex process influenced by various factors.
Infants' language acquisition is a multifaceted phenomenon.

Language Development: Last Week

Theories of cognition (e.g., Theory Theory, Vygotsky's approach) were covered.
Piaget's theory compared to Vygotsky's.
Attachment theory and its constructs.

Language Development: This Week

Learning how infants interpret speech.
Different methods used to study infant language acquisition.
Understanding the formal and informal aspects of language.
Overview of various theories surrounding language acquisition.

Pre-Linguistic Stage

The stage before actual speech development.
This stage focuses on speech perception.

Speech Perception

Methods of parsing the speech stream.
Development is influenced by various factors, and not singular.

Parsing Speech into Words

Understanding how words and phrases are understood.
Knowing how words and phrases are distinguished.

Conversational Frames

How conversation begins.
Ed Tronick's studies on protoconversations, including feeding dialogues, "peek-a-boo" scenarios, and social contingencies in turn-taking and reciprocity.

"Still Face" Paradigm

An experimental method to analyze how babies react to disruptions in social exchanges.
A technique used to study how infants respond to caregivers' reactions.

Language Sounds

Categorical speech perception (Eimas et al., 1971, 1985).
Two-month-olds demonstrate the ability to discriminate.

"Use It or Lose It" Phenomenon

Infants lose the ability to distinguish sounds not present in their native language.
The example of La/Ra phonemes.

Statistical Regularities

Infants learn by recognizing patterns and sequences.
Example: Saffran, Aslin, & Newport (1996) research.

Pop/Peep: Visual & Auditory Info

Studies (Kuhl & Meltzoff, 1984) on infants' ability to link visual and auditory information.
Infants show sensitivity to audiovisual cues.

Talker-Specific Information

Understanding that talker information (who is speaking) enhances word comprehension.
Nygaard, Mitchell, & Pisoni (1994) study demonstrating how speakers' voices are recognized.

Knowing the Language Helps to Distinguish Different Talkers

Fecher & Johnson (2019) study demonstrated the role of language learning.
Infants can detect differences between speakers utilizing the same language and differing talkers in different languages.

How to Break into Language

Motherese, conversational frames, and timing of caregivers' reactions.
Differentiating sounds, and using statistical regularities and recognizing talker information.

Formal Aspects of Language

Phoneme: The primary building blocks of sound in any language.
Morpheme: The smallest unit with meaning in a language.
Semantics: The meaning of words and phrases.
Syntax: The grammar and structure of sentences in the language.

Non-Formal Aspects of Language

Prosodics: The "music" of language, including aspects like tone, intonation, and rhythm in spoken language.
Pragmatics: Using language to achieve communicative goals.

Language Learning Before Words

The stages of language development prior to spoken word usage.
Language learning starts with sounds.

Language Production

Comprehension precedes production.
Development starts with understanding basic sounds and progresses to forming words and sentences.

Cooing (~2 Months)

The initial vocalizations of infants.
Mostly composed of vowel sounds.

Babbling (~6-10 Months)

Sounds in babbling can stem from various parts of speech and not every sound of the language is included.
Deaf children exhibit babbling in sign language too.

Babbling in Vocal Development

Goldstein (2002) study demonstrating stages in babbling development. Different stages of babbling.

How Might Babbling Develop?

Caregivers' responses, unintentional or otherwise, can influence babies' speech development.
Example: Operant conditioning.

Babbling Results

Goldstein (2002) study highlighting that reinforcement influences babbling in an experimental group.
A shift in interaction patterns can shape babbling qualities.

Reciprocal process where infant and caregiver react to modifications in each other's sounds.
Two-way exchange shapes vocal development.

Expressive Jargon

A stage where infants use a variety of sounds and words.
Often used as part of conversations.

Word Learning

First words are often associated with vital needs, like food and people.
Different word learning styles.

Baby's 1st words: Types of words

Basic vocabulary focused on people, animals, objects, actions, and simple phrases.
Infants also demonstrate over- and under-extensions.

Baby's 1st Words: Types of Learners

Different learning styles exist for infants; some are referential learners focusing on objects while some are expressive focusing on social interaction and description.

Baby's 1st words: Misuses of words

Over-extension: Overgeneralizing words.
Under-extension: Undergeneralizing words.

Baby's 1st words: Holophrases

Holophrases: Single word representing a whole idea or sentence.
This is utilized as an indication from the caregiver to better understand the child.

After 1st Words: Word Explosion

Rapid increase in vocabulary after first words.
Naming Insight—an important factor during word growth, which occurs in stages.

How Do Infants Learn Words?

Input matters: Learning words is more effective when accompanied by actions or experiences.
Babies learn words best when connected to activities.

Baby's 1st words: How do babies know what you're talking about?

The problem of reference: How babies link words to objects.
Context solutions: Caregivers usually name appropriate objects around babies.

Amount of Input Depends on SES

More words are heard in professional families than in welfare families.

After 1st words: Telegraphic Speech

The development of phrase-form statements.
Usually using basic and necessary words.

Learning Formal Aspects

How children learn the formal aspects of language, and the nature vs. nurture debate.

Extreme Nurture: Skinner's Behaviorism

Language acquisition is a learned behavior, similar to other behaviors through conditioning and reinforcement.
Imitation and shaping influence development.

Interactionist View

Language acquisition is a combination of nature and nurture.
Social interaction and contextual cues play a role in learning.

Extreme Nature: Chomsky's Nativism

Language acquisition is an innate ability.
Children are born with a predisposition for language learning.

Chomsky: Language is Universal!

Universal Grammar—a core aspect of language.
Language is a natural and inherent part of humans.

Chomsky: What is Innate?

Universal Grammar: A set of rules that govern all languages.
Essential knowledge needed to create language.

LAD: Language Acquisition Device

Innate "language acquisition device" in the brain aids language development.
Language is a natural human ability.

Pinker's "Language Instinct"

Innate ability to learn language makes it seem natural and instinctual to humans.
The natural ability to learn one's native language.

Sensitive Period for Learning Syntax

Optimal time frame for language development.
Younger learners usually have fewer issues in acquiring the new language.

Genie: Early and Later Days

Genie's case highlighting the importance of language exposure during crucial developmental stages.
Demonstrating the critical role of appropriate socialization in development.

Validity Issues in Genie's Case

Social and cognitive factors can hinder language acquisition.
A social and contextual understanding plays a significant role in language learning.

Sensitive Period: 2nd Language Learning

Second language acquisition is easier for younger kids, although exposure duration may influence learning difficulties.
Time difference and level of learning will affect overall development in second-language skills.

“Less is More”

Newport (1981 to current). The less complex the input from early exposures, the easier it is to understand second-language development.
There are certain non-linguistic reasons why it is easier for children to develop language abilities versus adults.

Language Summary

Comprehension precedes production in most cases.
Language development involves acquiring sounds, establishing words, and formulating complete sentences.
Social interaction is a significant factor in the process and influences the formal and informal aspects of a child's learning.

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Description

Test your knowledge on various aspects of language development and semantics. This quiz covers essential concepts like morphemes, babbling stages, and the prosodic features of language. Perfect for students studying linguistics or anyone interested in understanding language acquisition.