Chap 7 - Language Development

Question 0

Prelinguistic communication

Answer 0

Communication thru sounds, facial expressions, gestures, imitation, & other nonlinguistic means

Question 1

Language

Answer 1

The systematic, meaningful arrangement of symbols, which provides the basis for communication

Question 2

Babbling

Answer 2

Making speechlike but meaningless sounds

Question 3

Holophrases

Answer 3

One-word utterances that depend on the particular context in which they are used to determine meaning

Question 4

Telegraphic speech

Answer 4

Speech in which words not critical to the message are left out

Question 5

Syntax

Answer 5

The combining of words & phrases to form sentences

Question 6

Fast mapping

Answer 6

The process in which new words are associated with their meaning after only a brief encounter

Question 7

Grammar

Answer 7

The system of rules that determine how our thoughts can be expressed

Question 8

Pragmatics

Answer 8

The aspect of language relating to communicating effectively & appropriately with others

Question 9

Private speech

Answer 9

Spoken language that is not intended for others, commonly used by children during the preschool years

Question 10

Societal speech

Answer 10

Speech directed toward another person & meant to be understood by that person

Question 11

Metalinguistic awareness

Answer 11

An understanding of one’s own use of language

Question 12

Learning theory approach

Answer 12

The theory that language acquisition follows the basic laws of reinforcement & conditioning

Question 13

Nativist approach

Answer 13

The theory that a genetically determined, innate mechanism directs the development of language; Chomsky

Question 14

Universal grammar

Answer 14

A similar underlying structure shared by all the world’s languages, according to linguist Noam Chomsky

Question 15

Language-acquisition device (LAD)

Answer 15

A neural system of the brain hypothesized to permit understanding of language structure & provide strategies for learning the particular characteristics of a language; nativist approach- Chomsky

Question 16

Linguistic-relativity hypothesis

Answer 16

The theory that language shapes thought & may determine the way people of a given culture perceive & understand the world; Whorf

Question 17

Infant-directed speech

Answer 17

A type of speech directed toward infants that is characterized by short, simple sentences

Question 18

Formal characteristics of language

Answer 18

1. Phonology - refers to basic sounds of language, called phonemes, that can be combined to produce words & sentences; English employs 40 phonemes to create every word in the language
2. Morphemes - smallest language unit that has meaning
3. Semantics - the rules that govern the meaning of words & sentences

Question 19

Linguistic comprehension

Answer 19

The understanding of speech; comprehension precedes production, begins earlier & increases at a faster rate than production

Question 20

Linguistic production

Answer 20

Use of language to communicate

Question 21

Underextension

Answer 21

Using words too restrictively; occurs when language novices think that a word refers to a specific instance of a concept, instead of to all examples of the concept

Question 22

Overextension

Answer 22

Words are used too broadly; overgeneralizing their meaning; I.e. assuming an object with wheels must be a car

Question 23

Intonation

Answer 23

Tone of voice

Question 24

3 major approaches have guided thinking on language acquisition

Answer 24

1. Learning theory approach
2. Nativist approach
3. Interactionist perspective

Question 25

Interactionist perspective

Answer 25

Theory that combines both the learning theory approach & the nativist approach; suggests that language development is produced thru a combo of genetically determined predispositions & environmental circumstances that help teach language

Question 26

Bilingual education

Answer 26

Students are initially taught in their native language, while at the same time learning English

Question 27

Piaget’s view on the development of language

Answer 27

Thinking shapes language