Language

Question 1

A proficient user of language has a knowledge of what four things?

Answer 1

• Phonology
• Semantics
• Syntax
• Pragmatics

Question 2

What is phonology?

Answer 2

Understanding of sound systems and how to combine them to make meaningful speech. E.g. st and sk used; sb and sd not

Question 3

What is semantics?

Answer 3

Think seMEANtics- The meaning of words and sentences

Question 4

What is syntax?

Answer 4

Form and structure of a language. E.g. John hit Jim, Jim hit John, Jim John hit

Question 5

What is pragmatics?

Answer 5

Rules about language in social context – what to say and how to say it

Question 6

What are the stages of acquisition?

Answer 6

Prelinguistic period, appreciation of meaning, telegraphic speech and beginnings of adult speech

Question 7

What is the prelinguistic period?

Answer 7

0-12 months

• 3 forms of vocalisation: crying (3-4 weeks), cooing (3-6 weeks +), babbling (3-4 months) – adding consonants, echolalia (sound repetition)
• Dialogue returned by caregivers
• Learn from others – turn taking, that words have meaning

Question 8

What is appreciation of meaning/words as representation period?

Answer 8

8-12 months

• Associate object with its name
• Verbal labels – maybe points to assist

Question 9

What is the telegraphic speech period?

Answer 9

18-24 months

• Combining simple words to give meaning (e.g. “more juice”)
• May overextend e.g. labels all men as “dad”

Question 10

What is the beginning pf adult speech period?

Answer 10

2 years +

• Adding complexity = 2 years+
• Adding verbs
• Compound sentences - using “and” and “so”-Past tense – adding –ed
• Logical errors e.g. “mouse gone away”

Years 3-5

• Interest in rhymes and songs
• Commentaries during play
• Pre-sleep monologues
• All show emergence of narrative – from actions to spoken stories, links to reading

Question 11

What types of thinking are there?

Answer 11

• Propositional thought = verbal (that ‘voice in your head’)

* Imaginal thought = thinking in images

Question 12

What are the theories of language acquisition?- Skinner

Answer 12

Skinner = language is learned through operant conditioning (learning through positive and negative reinforcement and punishment) as well as imitation

Question 13

What are the theories of language acquisition?- Chomsky

Answer 13

Chomsky = language is innate, the brain is devoted to it and has structures that control interpretation and function of speech. There is universal grammar.

Question 14

What are joint involvement episodes?

Answer 14

One on one conversations between adult and child. Helps them understand the timing of speech and adopts a helpful speech style.

Question 15

What is motherese?

Answer 15

Essentially “baby talk” – adult talking to child in a higher pitched, slower voice

Question 16

Communication in animals- how does it work?

Answer 16

Teaching human language-American sign language-Koko- gorilla taught sign language
-lexigrams – Kanzi, Panbanisha
• stimulus-response learning or true language?
-poor syntax (esp. word order)
-basic acquisition of linguistic skills- can’t get much further on than a child

Question 17

How does deafness and the way you are brought up with deaf and non-deaf parents affect development?

Answer 17

Deaf children = with deaf parents they achieve similar milestones as hearing children - sign language is not an impoverished language. With hearing parents, they are at a disadvantage as they are encouraged to lip read – essentially learn a language denied to them.

Question 18

What are the types of aphasia?

Answer 18

Expressive aphasia = damage to Broca’s area; can interpret language but cannot express it – language is halted, hesitant.

Receptive aphasia = damage to Wernicke’s area; can express language but cannot interpret words heard or seen. Speech is fluent and grammatically correct but makes no sense.