Language Language is a product of evolution Psycholinguistics 1 Study of the psychological mechanisms underlying the use of language 2 Study of the cognitive and neurobiological mechanisms underlying the acquisition use and understanding of language 1 Symbols that convey meaning 2 Rules for combining those symbols that can be used to generate an infinite variety of 3 Symbolic uses symbols semantic has meaning generative produces new meaning structured Phonemes basic units of sound in the spoken language The alphabet Morphemes smallest unit of meaning in a language words Syntax system of rules that specify how words can be arranged into phrases and sentences grammar Language messages Structure of Language Language development 1 5 months random vocalizations crying 6 12 months babbling sounds corresponds to phonemes Approximates human speech patterns Improves significantly over time reflects maturation of the nervous system and vocal apparatus 12 Months Use of words that refer to objects 12 18 months 50 words slow development one word sentence stage 18 24 months vocabulary spurt great increase Fast mapping and overextension error 2 years of age two word sentence stage telegraphic speech 2 and a half years of age Three word sentence stage speaks to listener 3 5 years of age past tense expanded grammatical forms Overregulation Complete simple active sentence structure uses plurals Speaks in present and 6 years complex syntax 10 000 words Metalinguistic awareness Holophrases Single word utterances that appear to function like sentences Fast mapping Children map a word onto an underlying concept or object after only one exposure to the word Overextension Error Child incorrectly maps a word on a wider set of objects Lacks appropriate word to describe object Example Referring to the moon as a ball Telegraphic speech Use of pronouns and verbs Overregulation Grammatical rules are incorrectly generalized to irregular cases where they do not apply I hitted the ball Imaginary speech Metalinguistic awareness Ability to reflect on the use of language Behaviorist Theory of Language Acquisition Imitation and reinforcement Conditioning learning Syntax is learned by imitation adults make corrections Criticism of behaviorist theory Overly simplistic explanation Overlooks learner contributions Untestable Ignores un reinforceable development e g phonological knowledge and unreinforced productions does not explain the acquisition of underlying rules Nativist Theory Language capabilities are inborn LAD Chomsky Language Acquisition Device LAD Innate mechanism in the brain that facilitates the learning of language it is theoretical Chomsky 1965 Aphasia Difficulty with language spoken and written Broca s Aphasia laborious nonfluent speech Example Broca s say walk dog which means I will take the dog for a walk you wake the dog for a walk etc Damage to the left frontal lobe Broca s area Characterized by slow Wernicke s Aphasia Characterized by deficits in the recognition of speech and by the production of fluent but essentially meaningless speech Damage to left temporal and parietal cortex Wernicke s area Life span Development Prenatal Development From conception to birth Zygote Union of sperm and egg Germinal stage First 2 weeks of pregnancy rapid cell division cell mass migrates through fallopian tube to uterine wall Development of the placenta which allows the passage of oxygen and nutrients from mother to embryo the waste is passed to the mother Embryonic stage Up to second month of pregnancy Basic physiological structures are formed heart spine and brain arms legs eyes and ears It is highly vulnerable miscarriages structural birth defects Fetal stage from 2nd month to birth Muscles and bones develop physical movement noticeable During the last 3 months brain cells multiply vigorously Fetal Viability After about 6 months fetus is viable can survive premature birth Eating habits malnutrition drug use e g fetal alcohol syndrome and physical health measles cholera syphilis etc of the mother affect the embryo and fetus Infant mortality of deaths in the 1st year of life per 1000 infants prenatal care is important Development of vision and hearing 6 months acuity is 20 100 sees object at 20 feet as sharp as a normal adult does at 100 feet 2 years acuity is 20 20 full vision Hearing is very good at birth Smell is also well developed at birth Motor Development Muscular coordination required for physical activity There are 2 types of trends on how it develops Cephalo Caudal trend Head to foot direction Proximo Distal trend Center outwards direction first control over torso movements then arms Maturation Gradual unfolding of the genetic blueprint Specialized motor skills as a cultural expression Nobody is born a soccer player you are shaped to be Developmental studies use drop out easily Longitudinal Studies Observe a group over the course of many years Disadvantage subjects Cross Sectional Studies Compare different age groups at a given point in time Disadvantage individuals should differ only in terms of age be the same person Sequential Studies Two or more groups differing in age are compared and followed over a longer period of time Issue of Attachment Emotional bond of affection between infant and caregiver bond is not instantaneous but develops gradually over the course of 6 months Erikson s stage theory of personality development Stage It refers to a period in which characteristic behaviors are exhibited and certain capacities become established A new stage builds on the previous one and each one is age related A set of problems tends to be associated with each stage Stage 1 Year 1 Trust Infant depends completely on adults to satisfy basic needs if satisfied infant is trusting towards the world Stage 2 Year 2 3 Autonomy Begins to assume responsibilities toilet training cooperation in bathing etc Sense of sufficiency Stage 3 Year 4 6 Initiative Emerging independence and ability to take own initiatives Stage 4 Year 6 puberty Industriousness Ability to relate to others intellectual social and physical skills Cognitive development 6 months to puberty Jean Piaget There are two complementary processes in cognitive development o Assimilation Interpreting new experiences in terms of existing mental structures without changing them appreciate things differently as you get older o Accommodation Changing existing mental structures to explain new experiences There are four stages in cognitive development there are 8
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