W2

Question 1

What are the 3 main mechanisms for language learning?

Answer 1

1) Innate mechanism: Assumes children acquire language due to innate knowledge.

2) Environmental mechanisms: Language is acquired through conditioning principles.

3) Cognitive Mechanisms: Involves mental activities related to comprehension and knowledge use.

Question 2

Define Innate Mechanism

Answer 2

The Generative or Nativist approach (Chomsky) assumes that children acquire language because they are born with innate language knowledge.

Example: Overextensions for regular plural -s and regular past tense markers.

Question 3

Define Environmental mechanisms.

Answer 3

Language is acquired through principles of conditioning, including association, imitation, and reinforcement.

Example: Children deprived of language in early years cannot catch up later.

Question 4

Define Cognitive Mechanisms.

Answer 4

Cognition involves mental activities in comprehension, acquisition, organization, storage, memory, and use of knowledge.
Examples: Object permanence, egocentric phase.

Question 5

What are the main characteristics of ‘Motherese/ Fatherese’ in the Paralinguistic domain?

Answer 5

High pitched intonation, slower speech rate, exaggerated facial expressions, eye gaze.

Question 6

What are the main characteristics of ‘Motherese/ Fatherese’ in the Semantics domain?

Answer 6

Concrete concepts, non-complex concepts, repetition of these concepts.

Question 7

What are the main characteristics of ‘Motherese/ Fatherese’ in the Phonology domain?

Answer 7

Lengthening of vowels and consonants, repetition of syllables or short words.

Question 8

What are the main characteristics of ‘Motherese/ Fatherese’ in the Syntax domain?

Answer 8

Simple sentence structure (2-3 word sentences), questions.

Question 9

What are the main characteristics of ‘Motherese/ Fatherese’ in the Morphology domain?

Answer 9

Open class words, verbs and nouns.

Question 10

What are the main characteristics of ‘Motherese/ Fatherese’ in the Pragmatics domain?

Answer 10

Smiles, eye contact, large gestures.

Question 11

Name the 3 theories that shaped our understanding of language learning.

Answer 11

1. Generative / Nativist Theory - Noam Chomsky.
2. Behaviourist Theory - BF Skinner.
3. Interactionist Theory - Vygotsky and Piaget.