Podcast Beta
Questions and Answers
What is simultaneous bilingualism?
Bilingualism is associated with advanced cognitive skills such as memory and executive function.
True
Name one way to support children's language development.
Read to children
Bilingualism can make individuals more _______ and _______ flexible.
Signup and view all the answers
What is a characteristic of Infant-Directed Speech?
Signup and view all the answers
Reading and being read to has no impact on children’s language development.
Signup and view all the answers
What does the term 'Word Gap' refer to?
Signup and view all the answers
Broca’s area is involved in __________ production.
Signup and view all the answers
Match the following areas of the brain with their functions:
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following helps children with language development?
Signup and view all the answers
Children find it easier to learn a second language compared to adults.
Signup and view all the answers
What influences language development according to the interactionist view?
Signup and view all the answers
Which component of language relates to the knowledge of sounds used in a given language?
Signup and view all the answers
Language deprivation affects 90-95% of deaf children born to hearing parents.
Signup and view all the answers
At what age do children typically begin to say their first words?
Signup and view all the answers
The understanding of how to combine words into sentences is known as ______.
Signup and view all the answers
Match the following stages of language development with their corresponding age:
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for a child's rapid increase in vocabulary typically starting around 18 months?
Signup and view all the answers
Nativist approaches to language acquisition suggest that language development is primarily learned through interaction.
Signup and view all the answers
Which perspective suggests the quantity of talk directed at children is linked to their language development?
Signup and view all the answers
What aspect of language development is focused on the rules for combining words into sentences?
Signup and view all the answers
Which component of language is primarily concerned with the meaning of words and sentences?
Signup and view all the answers
What is typically the first recognizable form of communication in infants?
Signup and view all the answers
At what age do children generally begin to show comprehension of words?
Signup and view all the answers
Which term refers to the understanding of how to use language effectively in communication?
Signup and view all the answers
Which approach suggests children acquire language through innate mechanisms rather than environmental input?
Signup and view all the answers
What developmental milestone involves a child's sudden increase in vocabulary typically happening around 18 months?
Signup and view all the answers
Which factor is linked to a child's vocabulary growth according to the interactionist perspective?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a characteristic of simultaneous bilingualism?
Signup and view all the answers
Which cognitive skill is enhanced by bilingualism?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following strategies is effective in supporting children's language development?
Signup and view all the answers
Bilingualism contributes to which aspect of social competence?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one suggested way to engage children during daily activities to promote language development?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the impact of reading and being read to on children’s language development?
Signup and view all the answers
Which area of the brain is primarily responsible for language comprehension?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the term 'Word Gap' refer to?
Signup and view all the answers
What role does the interactionist view attribute to motivation in language development?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of speech features short sentences, high pitch, and exaggerated expressions?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a significant outcome of warm and consistent parent response patterns to infant actions?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a key reason why learning a second language is often easier for children than for adults?
Signup and view all the answers
What function does the Broca’s area serve in language processing?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
What is Language?
- Language is a form of communication, whether spoken, written, or signed, based on abstract symbols with specific conventions.
The Development of Language
- Five basic components are fundamental for all languages.
- Phonology: Understanding the sounds used in a language
- Morphology: Understanding how sounds combine to form words
- Semantics: The meaning of words and sentences
- Syntax: Understanding sentence structure and word combination rules.
- Pragmatics: Understanding how to use language effectively for communication.
Language Development Stages
- Birth: Infants cry and attend to human speech/sign.
- 2-3 Months: Cooing begins.
- 6 Months: Babbling begins.
-
6-12 Months:
- Transition from universal linguist to language-specific learning.
- Comprehension of words starts (6-9 months).
-
8-12 Months:
- Use of gestures.
-
12 Months:
- First words (Holophrases).
- Fast Mapping - rapidly learning new words.
-
18 Months:
- Vocabulary spurt begins.
- Underextension: Applying words too narrowly.
- Overextension: Applying words too broadly.
- By 3 years: 900 words.
- By 6 years: 14,000 words.
- 21 Months: Telegraphic Speech starts (two-word phrases).
Three Views of Language Acquisition
- Learning Theory Approach: Language is learned through imitation and reinforcement.
- Nativist Approaches: Children are born with innate language abilities, the Language Acquisition Device (LAD).
- Interactionist Perspective: Language acquisition is influenced by both biology and the environment.
Environmental Influences on Language Development
- Quantity of Talk: The amount of language directed at children is linked to vocabulary growth.
-
Infant Directed Speech:
- Short sentences.
- High pitch.
- Exaggerated expressions.
- Clear pronunciation.
- Distinct pauses.
- Clear gestures.
- Repetition.
- Reading Practice: Reading and being read to improves language development.
- Word Gap: Children from low-income families may hear 30 million fewer words than their middle-class peers by age 3, impacting language development.
Biological Influences on Language Development
- Language Acquisition Device (LAD): Proposed by Noam Chomsky, it suggests children are born with an innate ability to detect language patterns and follow rules.
-
Brain Structures:
- Broca's Area: Involved in speech production.
- Wernicke's Area: Involved in language comprehension.
Sensitive Period for Language
- Children learn languages more easily than adolescents or adults.
- Evidence suggests a sensitive period for language development, with earlier learners generally having better grammar proficiency.
Bilingualism and Second Language Learning
- Simultaneous Bilingualism: Exposure to two languages from birth, leading to distinct language systems.
-
Advantages of Bilingualism:
- Improved cognitive skills like memory, attention, reasoning, and flexibility.
Aiding Children's Language Development
- Respond to coos and babbles with words.
- Use joint-attention to comment and engage.
- Play social games with infants and toddlers.
- Talk through daily activities.
- Expand on what the child says.
- Read to children.
- Bilingualism supports language and cognitive development.
Language Development: The Basics
- Language is a form of communication that can be spoken, written, or signed. It relies on abstract symbols with specific conventions.
- The five primary components of language are phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax, and pragmatics.
- Phonology involves understanding sounds within a language.
- Morphology deals with how sounds combine to form words.
- Semantics focuses on understanding the meaning of words and sentences.
- Syntax refers to the rules governing sentence structure and word combinations.
- Pragmatics encompasses the skill of using language effectively for communication.
Stages of Language Development
- Language development follows a predictable pattern, starting with crying and progressing to complex language use.
- At 6 months, babies begin babbling, transitioning from universal language learners to language-specific learners.
- Around 12 months, infants utter their initial words, often using holophrases (single words conveying a complete thought).
- Fast mapping allows children to quickly learn new words by associating them with a specific object or concept.
- By 18 months, a vocabulary spurt begins, with significant vocabulary growth (900 words by age 3, and 14,000 words by age 6).
- Children use telegraphic speech (two-word phrases) between 18-24 months.
Theories of Language Acquisition
- Three primary theories explain language acquisition: learning theory, nativist approaches, and interactionist perspectives.
- Learning theory focuses on the role of reinforcement and imitation in language development.
- Nativist approaches emphasize biological preparedness, proposing an innate language acquisition device (LAD).
- Interactionist perspectives acknowledge both biological factors and environmental input as crucial for language learning.
Environmental Influences on Language Development
- The quantity and quality of language exposure significantly impact children's language development.
- Infant-directed speech (IDS) helps infants learn language by simplifying language, using high pitch, exaggerating pronunciation, and employing gestures.
- Reading to children contributes significantly to their language skills, emphasizing the importance of reading practice.
- The word gap highlights the disparity in language exposure between children from low- and middle-income families.
- Serve and return interactions involve consistent, warm, and contingent responses from caregivers, promoting positive language development.
Biological Influences on Language Development
- Biological preparedness suggests humans are biologically equipped to learn language.
- Brain structures play a crucial role in language development, including Broca's area (speech production) and Wernicke's area (language comprehension).
- The sensitive period for language acquisition is during early childhood, with grammar proficiency and age of arrival impacting language learning.
Bilingualism
- Simultaneous bilingualism, exposure to two languages from birth, allows children to develop distinct language systems.
- Bilingualism offers cognitive advantages, enhancing memory, attention, reasoning, and cognitive flexibility.
Supporting Children's Language Development
- Respond to infants' vocalizations with words.
- Use joint-attention to engage children in shared experiences.
- Play social games with infants and toddlers.
- Engage in conversations about daily activities.
- Expand on what children say to extend their language.
- Encourage reading to children.
- Support bilingualism to enhance language and cognitive development.
Additional Resources
- Common Sense Media offers recommendations for age-appropriate media and books.
- The Marginalian explores the value of literature and its impact on personal growth.
- American Indians Children’s Literature curates resources for diverse representation in children's literature.
- Hijabi Librarians highlights the importance of inclusivity in libraries.
- Latinxs in Kid Lit promotes Latinx voices in children's literature.
- The Brown Book Shelf focuses on books featuring characters from marginalized groups.
- LGBTQ Kid Lit provides resources for LGBTQ-inclusive literature.
- Social Justice Books offers a curated selection of books addressing social justice issues.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
This quiz explores the fundamentals of language, including its basic components such as phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax, and pragmatics. Additionally, it covers the stages of language development from infancy to early childhood. Test your understanding of how language is structured and how it evolves over time.