Crystal Flashcards
(12 cards)
What model of language acquisition does Michael Tomasello outline?
A usage-based model of language acquisition and development
This model emphasizes that language structures emerge through use.
What drives the ability to learn language according to Tomasello?
Primarily social factors and cognitive processes similar to other forms of learning
Examples include walking, drawing, and counting.
At what age do children begin to use a pattern-forming ability?
By 9-12 months
This ability is not limited to language but spans across various types of learning.
What do children learn about single words through pattern-forming?
Different forms and functions of single words
Examples: cat/cats (singular/plural) and walk/walk (noun/verb).
What aspect of language do children understand through the use of patterns?
The intentional aspect of language
Language as a means of conveying meaning.
What becomes the building blocks for using various grammatical patterns?
Generalizations about how words form larger syntactic constructions.
What approach has David Crystal focused on in relation to language acquisition?
An approach known as the usage-based model, focusing on constructions
Constructions are ‘chunks’ or short phrases of language.
What are constructions in the context of language acquisition?
‘Chunks’ or short phrases of language that children collect and adapt.
How do children acquire local patterns in their first language?
By collecting and manipulating reliable patterns
Example: Where’s the x dog/train/milk.
What type of approach does a usage-based understanding of language acquisition advocate?
A ‘bottoms-up’ approach
The child actively builds templates for grammatical structures based on sensory input.
What is the opposite of a ‘bottoms-up’ approach in language learning?
‘Top-down’ approaches.
What is the significance of sensory input and interaction with caregivers in Tomasello’s model?
They are crucial for building and using grammatical structures.
