File 8.0 Language Acquisition Flashcards
Innate
Atleast part of human language is innate.
Innateness Hypotheness
Theories of seeking answers to questions along with how children acquire the specific language that is spoken around them? Some theories include Imitation theory and reinforcement theory.
Three More Current Theories of Language Acquisition
- Active Construction of a Grammar Theory
- Connectionist Theories
- Social Interaction Theory
Linguistic Universals
The basic features shared by all languages such as nouns and verbs
Universal Grammar
Inborn set of structural characteristics shared by all languages.
Critical Period
Describes a period of time in an individual’s life during which a behavior -in this case language- must be acquired.
Unfortunate Circumstances
In which children were either neglected by their caretakers or grew up in the wild, often with animals (feral children) during critical periods.
Homesign Gestures
Communicative gestures (a form associated with meaning) that are invented b deaf children and the people with who they routinely interact in cases where a signed language is not made available.
Imitation Theory
Claims that children learn language by listening to the speech around them and reproducing what they hear.
Reinforcement Theory
Asserts that children learn to speak like adults because they are praised, rewarded, or otherwise reinforced when they use the right forms and are corrected when they are using the wrong forms.
Active Construction of a Grammar Theory
The most influencial theory of language acquisition, holds that children actually invent the rules of grammar themselves.
Connectionist Theories
Assume that children learn language by creating neutral connections in the brain. A child develops such connections through exposure to language and the using language.
Social Interaction Theory
Assumes that children acquire language through social interaction, with older children and adults in particular.
Identifying Sounds
Children are able to perceive sounds many distinctions in language much earlier then they are able to produce them.
High Amplitude Sucking
Infants are given a special pacifier that is connected to a sound-generating system.
Conditioned Head-Turn Procedure
Usually used with infants between five and eighteen months. Has two phases: conditioning and testing.
Child-directed speech
Is slow and high-pitched and contains many repetitions, simplified syntax, exaggerated intonation, and a simple and concrete vocabulary.
Producing sounds
A child’s first vocalizations are present at the very beginning of life. Within a few weeks after birth, a child begins to coo, producing sequences of vowel like sounds.
Articulatory Gestures
Involved in producing a paricular sound (ex bringing both lips together to produce a bilabial sound), as well as the timing relationships between these gestures.
Babble
Producing sequences of vowels and consonants if they are acquiring signed language.
Repeated or Canonical Babbling
Starts around the age of seven to ten months. The continual repetition of syllables helps the infant practice a sequence of consonant and vowel sounds.
Variegated Babbling
Between ten and twelve months. Infants begin to produce a variety of speech sounds, even sounds that are not part of the language the child is acquiring natively.
Developments: 1 Month
- Cry to express displeasure and other throaty sounds.
- Look at their parents when being talked to.
Developments: 2-3 Months
- Turn their eyes and later heads towards sounds and voices.
- Cry differently depending on needs.
- Smile and make noises in response.
- Begin cooing.
