Lecture 12Phonology 5Firs language acquisitionHow do children come to know their native language?language ability is innate in humans (biological predisposition to acquire language)no explicit instruction or conscious effort required; most grammatical rules in place by age 5one genetic trigger: FOXP2 gene (SLI)developmental timelinerequires rich linguistic input in critical period of biological developmentcritical period for language acquisitionJohnson and Newport 1989 studied the English fluency of immigrants to the U.S, found that fluency declined with age of immigration, beginning at age 7Critical period: feral children“genie”- no linguistic input until age 14; ultimately learned limited vocabulary but no grammatical rules“Isabelle”- deprived of spoken input until age 6 1/2 ; became normal native speaker 2 years after rescue“Chelsea”- misdiagnosed deaf child; deprived of linguistic input until 31; learned vocabulary but no grammatical rulesdevelopmental timeline for speechvegetative noises; 0-2 monthscrying, burping, sneezingcooing and laughter; 2-4 monthsfirst vocal communication; no speech sounds yetvocal play; 4-6 monthsattempts to articulate Vs and Csbabbling; 6-12 months“practices” CVCV sequencesfirst meaningful words; 12 monthssound contrasts perception experimentsmethodology: high amplitude suckingexperimentbabies age 6-12 months suck on pacifier attached to sound systemrate of sucking is monitored. When rate decreases, sound is changedincreased in rate  infant can perceive contrastno increase in rate  infant cannot perceive contrastacquisition of sound contrastsadults- know which sounds are contrastive (separate phonemes) in their language; unaware of allophoneshow do children learn the set of phonemes of their language?Sound contrast perception experimentsSummary6 months- can perceive phonetic distinctions that correspond to phonemes in all languages12 months- can only perceive phonetic distinctions for phonemes of their native languageacquisition of phonological contrasts= learning to ignore irrelevant information in the stimuliacquisition of adult rulesby age 4-5 children’s speech becomes adult-likehow are children learning adult pronunciation?Memorizing word by word?Internalizing general rules?Jean berko-gleason- 1958 studied acquisition of English phonological rules in children ages 4-8Example: pronunciation of plural –sEven the youngest children correctly applied voicing assimilation in the pluralChildren use rules creatively based on an understanding of natural classes; not simply imitating what they have heardLINGUIS 101 1st Edition Lecture 12  Phonology 5 Firs language acquisition- How do children come to know their native language? language ability is innate in humans (biological predisposition to acquire language) - no explicit instruction or conscious effort required; most grammatical rules in place by age 5- one genetic trigger: FOXP2 gene (SLI) - developmental timeline- requires rich linguistic input in critical period of biological development  critical period for language acquisition - Johnson and Newport 1989 studied the English fluency of immigrants to the U.S, found that fluency declined with age of immigration, beginning at age 7  Critical period: feral children - “genie”- no linguistic input until age 14; ultimately learned limited vocabulary but no grammatical rules - “Isabelle”- deprived of spoken input until age 6 1/2 ; became normal native speaker 2 years after rescue - “Chelsea”- misdiagnosed deaf child; deprived of linguistic input until 31; learned vocabulary but no grammatical rules developmental timeline for speech - vegetative noises; 0-2 months o crying, burping, sneezing - cooing and laughter; 2-4 months o first vocal communication; no speech sounds yet- vocal play; 4-6 months o attempts to articulate Vs and Cs- babbling; 6-12 months o “practices” CVCV sequences- first meaningful words; 12 months  sound contrasts perception experiments - methodology: high amplitude sucking - experimento babies age 6-12 months suck on pacifier attached to sound system o rate of sucking is monitored. When rate decreases, sound is changedo increased in rate  infant can perceive contrast o no increase in rate  infant cannot perceive contrast  acquisition of sound contrasts - adults- know which sounds are contrastive (separate phonemes) in their language; unaware of allophones - how do children learn the set of phonemes of their language? Sound contrast perception experiments - Summary - 6 months- can perceive phonetic distinctions that correspond to phonemes in all languages - 12 months- can only perceive phonetic distinctions for phonemes of their native language - acquisition of phonological contrasts= learning to ignore irrelevant information in thestimuli  acquisition of adult rules - by age 4-5 children’s speech becomes adult-like- how are children learning adult pronunciation?o Memorizing word by word?o Internalizing general rules?- Jean berko-gleason- 1958 studied acquisition of English phonological rules in children ages 4-8 o Example: pronunciation of plural –s- Even the youngest children correctly applied voicing assimilation in the plural - Children use rules creatively based on an understanding of natural classes; not simply imitating what they have