5.9-5.13 Flashcards
(21 cards)
language
is a form of communication either spoken, written, or signed that is based on a system of symbols
infinite generativity
is the ability to produce and comprehend an endless number of meaningful sentences using a finite set of words and rules
phonology
is the sound system of the language, including the sounds that are used and how they may be combined
morphology
refers is the units of meaning involves in the word formation
+a morpheme is a minimal unit of meaning; it’s the word or part of a word that cannot be broken into smaller meaningful parts
syntax
involves the way words are combined to form acceptable phrases and sentences
semantics
refers to the meaning of the word and sentence
pragmatics
the system of using appropriate conversation and knowledge of how to effectively use language in context
recognizing language sounds
-in the first six months, infants can recognize when the sounds change regardless of the language
-over the next six months they can perceive better the changes in their own language
ALSO they begin to segment speech streams into words
babbling and other vocalizations
-crying can refer to a signal of distress; different types of cries signal different things
-cooing, emerging at 2-4 months is a gurgling sound that usually expresses pleasure
-babbling such as “ba ba ba’’ allows the facial contractions
-showing and pointing starts at 7-15months
first words ( overextension-underextension)
++overextension is the tendency to apply a word to an inappropriate object such as a dog for an animal with four legs
++underextension is the tendency to apply a word too narrowly
two-word utterances -5-
identification: see doggie
repetition: more milk
possession: my candy
agent-action: mama-walk
question: where ball?
telegraphic speech
the use of short and precise words without
grammatical markers such as articles, auxiliary verbs, and other connectives
biological influences -2 areas-
Broca’s area
Wernicke’s area
broca’s area
the region in the brain’s left frontal lobe that is
involved in speech production
Wernicke’s area
he region in the brain’s left hemisphere that is
involved in language comprehension.
what will happen if either of the areas is damaged?
produces a type of amnesia
+Damage to Broca’s area results in difficulty producing words correctly.
+Damage to Wernicke’s area results in poor comprehension and fluent but incomprehensible speech.
language acquisition device LAD
Chomsky’s term for a biological endowment enabling a child to detect the features
and rules of language, including phonology, syntax, and semantics
++it’s a theoretical contract and not a physical part of the brain
++even if the LAD exists it cannot explain the whole story of language acquisition
environmental influences
+social cues play an important role in infant language learning
+Tomasello’s interaction view emphasizes that children learn a language in specific contexts, especially joint attention.
!!! vocabulary development is linked to:
the family socioeconomic status and the type of talk parents direct to their children
child direct speech
language spiken in a higher pitch and slower speed than the normal, with simple words and sentences
other strategies that enhance the child’s acquisition of language -3-
+recasting: rephrasing something the child has said in the form of a fully grammatical sentence
+expanding: restating something with additional information
+labeling: naming objects that the child is intrested in
an interactionist view
-Children are biologically prepared to learn a language, but a child’s experiences influence language acquisition.
