CSpoken- Aitchison

Question 1

Aitchision (1987)

Answer 1

Believed language has a ‘biologically organised schedule’

Identified three tasks for a child learning language:
Labelling
Packaging
Network Building

Question 2

Labelling

Answer 2

A child associating a pattern of sounds with an object in the environment.
At this stage, underextension is common

Question 3

Packaging

Answer 3

Working out a word’s frame of reference and categorising words under a label.
Both under and over extension are seen at this stage.

Question 4

Network Building

Answer 4

Making connections between words- learning hypernyms and hyponyms, along with synonyms and antonyms.

Question 5

Hypernyms

Answer 5

The general term for a noun. E.g. ‘flower’

Question 6

Hyponym

Answer 6

The more specific term for a noun. E.g. ‘daisy’, ‘rose’, ‘tulip’.

Question 7

Strengths of Aitchison’s theory

Answer 7

-Clear framework of understanding child language acquisition
-Incorporates nativist, behaviourist and cognitive theory, so more holistic.
-Accurate to the typical progression of language

Question 8

Aitchison’s timetable of speech

Answer 8

12 months- using single words

0-2 years- understanding word endings

2 years- ability to ask questions an form negatives

5 years- use complex constructions with little error

Question 9

Limitations of Aitchison’s theory

Answer 9

-Does not account for the fact children can have different linguistic abilities, learning styles and experiences.
-Simplistic outlook as the process may be more complex than she simplifies it to be.

Question 10

How to identify Aitchison’s theory in an extract

Answer 10

Hypernyms and hyponyms
Children using synonyms rather than the same word twice
Children showing understanding of opposites/antonyms