HOW DO CHILDREN ACQUIRE LANGUAGE?Before production of language:-Pre-phonetic-Pre-synaptic-Pre-semantic-Pre-pragmaticsWithin their first year:-Larynx descends-Phonemic awarenesso150 sounds per language-Babbling-First words (the end of the first year)By second birthday:-Syntax-Rudimentary phrases (just past the two word stage)Preschool and elementary school-Extralinguistic aspects of communication-Egocentrism dissipates Language Deprivation-Influence of nature and nurture on languageoNo strict critical period, but a sensitive period.o"Genie"-Homesigners: children who invent their own sign language-The younger you are, the better you will learn a new language ("Less is more" theory) THEORIES OF LANGUAGE ACQUISITION-Imitation Account: suggests babies hear language used in systematic ways and learn to use language as adults use it.oBehaviorist view of language-B.F. Skinner-Verbal Behavior-Chomsky thought Skinner's book was stupid-Doesn't account for generative nature of language-Ability to create a seemingly infinite number of sentences-Proposed universal grammar-NATIVIST ACCOUNT-Children born with expectation of grammar essentially-Chomsky's language acquisition device-Innate and universal ability to acquire language-Several issues with the "universal grammar" approachoAnthropologists have not found a single language universaloWhat is in UG? Multiple researchers may not agree-Alternatives to UGoExperience based approaches-Statistical LearningoSocial Pragmatic Account-Specific aspects of the social environment structure language learning-CONTEXT-Requires assuming that infants have "theory of
View Full Document