Chapter 9: Language

Question 1

What is Language?

Answer 1

set of symbols used to communicate. Can be spoken, signed or written

-developed from gesture and social interaction

Question 2

What is Grammar?

Answer 2

Set of rules that specify how the units of language can be combined to produce meaningful meaning

Question 3

What are pragmatics?

Answer 3

practical aspects of language usage, including speech pace and gesturing, looking at words past their literal meanings

Question 4

Components of language?

Answer 4

-Language Production
-Speech
-Language Comprehension

Question 5

What is Language Production?

Answer 5

The generation/expression of thought through words

Question 6

What is Speech?

Answer 6

The expression of language through sounds

Question 7

What is Language comprehension?

Answer 7

The process of understanding spoken, written or signed language

Question 8

What are Phonemes? give an example?

Answer 8

Smallest unit of sound in a language
Dog has 3 phonemes: ‘D’ ‘o’ ‘g’

Question 9

What is Phonology?

Answer 9

The study of how individual sounds or phonemes are used to produce language

Question 10

What are semantics?

Answer 10

Study of how the meaning in language is constructed of individual words and sentences

Question 11

What are Morphemes? give an example?

Answer 11

smallest units of language that convey meaning

Jumped
-‘Jump’ (Physical action)
-‘ed’ (Past tense)

Question 12

Lexical Meaning

Answer 12

Dictionary meaning of a word, which can change over time

Question 13

Non-Verbal Communication meaning?

Answer 13

Body language communication

Question 14

Syntax meaning?

Answer 14

The system of words and arranging them in order to a convey meaning

Question 15

What are the 3 theories of language development

Answer 15

Nativism
Behaviourism
Interaction View

Question 16

Who discovered Nativism?

Answer 16

Noam Chomsky

Question 17

What was the main argument of Nativism?

Answer 17

Argues that language is innate, children being born with a sense of grammar via their LAD (Language Acquisition Device) which allows children to differentiate language, hence why children can learn so easily (universal Grammar)

-Also that everyone has a critical period, which is the perfect time to expose children to a language. Passed this period, it may be difficult to learn a new language fluently

Question 18

Explain LAD?

Answer 18

Language Acquisition Device
-Part of the brain which allows children to differenciate various languages via the universal grammar

-Allowing children to learn languages without problems during the critical period

Question 19

Explain Universal Grammar?

Answer 19

all languages share common structural principles, and children are born with an inherent understanding of these rules

-Explains why children can learn language with different environments

Question 20

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Nativism theory of Language?

Answer 20

Strengths:
-LAD + UG (universal grammar) explanation for why children can learn no matter their environment

Weaknesses:
-Lack of empirical data to prove LAD
-Downplays substantial role of environment effect on child development

Question 21

Who discovered Behaviourism?

Answer 21

B.F. Skinner

Question 22

Explain the Behaviouristic explanation of language?

Answer 22

Stated that language is learned through operation conditioning, which includes the act of rewarding and punishing

-As babies are given rewards for a word/sound, they are more likely to repeat that word/sound

-All about imitating words/sounds from the environment

Question 23

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Behaviourism theory of Language?

Answer 23

Strengths:
-Highlights the role of the child’s environment
-Reinforcement can assist babies in learning smaller phrases over time

Weaknesses:
-Loss of generativity
-Speech errors such as: Overregularization, Under-extension, Overextension

Question 24

Explain Generativity

Answer 24

the infinite # of ways to put units of language together “creativity”

Question 25

Explain Overregularization + Example

Answer 25

The excess use of grammatical rules Example: "I wented" instead of "I went"

Question 26

Explain Overextension + Example

Answer 26

The broad use of words by a child, which is applied to concepts that do not represent its definition -Child calls her dad "daddy", so she calls every adult male daddy

Question 27

Explain Underextension + Example

Answer 27

The narrow use of words by a child, which is applied to concepts that the child is only used to -Child might call her pants "jeans", but cannot call other jeans "jeans"

Question 28

Explain the Interactive View of Language?

Answer 28

Combines the theories of Nativism and Behaviourism by explaining that the brain is set up for language determination/categorization but hearing similar words used in every context of our daily lives can also develop language. The use of Social Interactions is key for ideal learning at an early age

Question 29

Ways Caregivers support word learning?

Answer 29

Toy Engagement Shared Experiences Scaffold sound/word learning Continuous communication with infant to help direct their speech and word segmentation Rich emotional expression (bonding) Gesturing (referential ability)

Question 30

What is the critical Milestone in language development that occurs within 1-5 months?

Answer 30

Crying, cooing, laughing, beginning of babbling

Question 31

What is the critical Milestone in language development that occurs within 6 months?

Answer 31

Reduplicative babbling which includes various use of phonemes and constant vowel sounds

Question 32

What is the critical Milestone in language development that occurs within 10 months?

Answer 32

Baby then resembles surrounding language (jargon's stage) "patterned speech"

Question 33

What is the critical Milestone in language development that occurs within 1 year?

Answer 33

Baby speaks first words, simple single words -Receptive + expressive language begins

Question 34

Explain Receptive + Expressive Language

Answer 34

Receptive Language -The ability to understand language input, via spoken, written, gestures or non-verbal cues Expressive Language -The ability to express one's thoughts, ideas or feelings by spoken, written, gestures or non-verbal cues

Question 35

What is the critical Milestone in language development that occurs within 18-24 months?

Answer 35

-Increase in vocabulary, which leads to over/under-extensions

Question 36

What is the critical Milestone in language development that occurs at the end of 2nd year?

Answer 36

-baby begins telegraphic speech, meaning they're able to combine words with morphemes "He jumped high"

Question 37

What is the critical Milestone in language development that occurs at the end of 3rd year?

Answer 37

Complex idea formations, with early grammar of plural and past tense -Over-regularization tends to occur

Question 38

What is the critical Milestone in language development that occurs at 3 years old?

Answer 38

Child begins to understand basic pragmatics, able to convey messages past their literal meaning. Also pausing between sentences

Question 39

What is the critical Milestone in language development that occurs at 4 years old?

Answer 39

Baby understands rules of grammar without any formal education

Question 40

Explain Fast-mapping vs Slow-mapping

Answer 40

Fast-mapping -learning via repetitive exposure, fast but may forget if not reviewed later Slow-mapping -Learning to understand the word, and how it can be used in different contexts.

Question 41

Can we apply the same rules of acquisition to languages learned later in life?

Answer 41

Not really as the individual's critical period has passed

Question 42

Why are adults have such a heard time learning another language?

Answer 42

Less neuroplasticity Our environment: -As children, we are given the opportunity to learn; no jobs or other responsibilities; just learning -If were able to recreate an environment as such, perhaps adults may be able to learn as frequently

Question 43

Advantages of being bilingual?

Answer 43

Learning a second language increases the ability of left parietal lobe to handle linguistic demands -also increased executive functioning of the brain (choosing what to pay attention to, tune out, process new info) -juggle more tasks easily

Question 44

Disadvantages of being bilingual?

Answer 44

-slightly slower language processing speed

Question 45

Explain Deb Roy's Experiment on child speech development? and the results?

Answer 45

Dr. Deb Roy placed cameras around his house, and recorded the development of his child from birth to the age of 3, collected the data to study further -His findings saw that 1. Words develop through a simplified linguistic environment - caregivers use simple language + repetition to improve the child's speech 2. Social Interaction is key -Having a parent with the child improved the child's learning ability + repetition