Language Acquisition

Question 1

Communication without language

Answer 1

Choices we make
Gestures body language
Social conventions and culture norms
Signs and symbols
Animal communication

Question 2

What is language?

Answer 2

A way of communicating
Diversity of language across species
Every language is unique
Interaction
Language comes to us naturally
Consists of specific units/elements/components

Question 3

Human language

Answer 3

Can be acquired or learned
Has basic units of speech that can be isolated, identified and categorised
Link between meaning and form
Is creative/productive (more meanings)
Expresses emotions, contributes to identity, enables socialisation
Tool for thinking, discovering the world, dreaming and learning

Question 4

What is language acquisition?

Answer 4

Process by which humans acquire the capacity to perceive and comprehend language as well as produce and use words and sentences to communicate
How children learn their native language
The ability to hear and speak the language

Question 5

Differences in children’s learning outcomes in language acquisition

Answer 5

Experience/exposure
Reading at home
Family/school socioeconomics
Preschool or chreche
Siblings
Neighbours / socialisation

Question 6

Why teachers need to learn about language acquisition?

Answer 6

To understand children’s learning process
To help children acquire literacy and develop oral language skills
Understanding the language acquisition process and levels will help teachers tailor instruction to meet the needs of a diverse group of learners

Question 7

Milestones
Phonology
0-1

Answer 7

Vocal play
Babbling

Question 8

Milestones
Phonology
1-2

Answer 8

Reorganisation and consolidation of phonological representations

Question 9

Milestones
Phonology
2-3

Answer 9

Phonetic inventory completion

Question 10

Milestones
Phonology
3-4

Answer 10

Phonological awareness grows

Question 11

Milestones
Lexicon
0-1

Answer 11

Name recognition

Question 12

Milestones
Lexicon
1-2

Answer 12

First word
50 word vocab
Word spurt

Question 13

Milestones
Lexicon
2-3

Answer 13

500 word vocab

Question 14

Milestones
Lexicon
3-4

Answer 14

Knowledge of derivational morphonology contributes to vocab

Question 15

Milestones
Grammar
0-1

Answer 15

Nothing

Question 16

Milestones
Grammar
1-2

Answer 16

First word combinations

Question 17

Milestones
Grammar
2-3

Answer 17

Complex utterances
Increase in length of word combos
Grammatical morphemes
Negative and question forms

Question 18

Milestones
Communication
0-1

Answer 18

Intentional communication

Question 19

Milestones
Communication
1-2

Answer 19

Distinguishable communication grows

Question 20

Milestones
Communication
2-3

Answer 20

Conversational initiative and responsiveness grows

Question 21

Milestones
Communication
3-4

Answer 21

Narrative skills develop

Question 22

What about different circumstances in which children learn/acquire languages?

Answer 22

More than one langauge drom birth
Different home and school language
Family immigration

Question 23

Skinner

Answer 23

Behaviourism 1957

Question 24

Behaviourism

Answer 24

Language acquisition is a passive process of imitation of adults speech and positive and negative reinforcement

Question 25

Problems with skinner’s behaviourism?

Answer 25

Creativity and new vocabulary New experiences How many responses can a stimulus have

Question 26

Problems with skinners belief on imitation

Answer 26

Why errors Not always correct repeat How can children produce sounds they’ve never heard

Question 27

Chomsky

Answer 27

Criticised behaviourism in 59 Believed children constructed the rule systems of their native langauge Universal grammar and innate language capacity is biologically predetermined

Question 28

Universal grammar (Chomsky)

Answer 28

A cognitive system that allows us to acquire any language Abstract knowledge and procedures that specify the possible grammar rules in every language UG guides langauge acquisition and that’s why we all reach developmental milestones at the same time in the same sequence

Question 29

Language acquisition device (Chomsky)

Answer 29

Input (primary linguistic data) LAD (language learning grammar Output: Childs speech