Study Guide Language Development 1 List and explain the 5 functions of language 1 Communicate 2 Influence others 3 Make decisions 4 Control our emotions behavior 5 Escape from reality though fantasy 2 For each of the 4 components of language also called 4 faces be able to a Name and define each one b Give examples of each one 1 Phonology a Rules for which sounds sound combinations intonations are legitimate the system of sounds that language uses b Legitimate sounds bik kib vs non bnmik 2 Semantics a Meaning of words word combinations as in phrases clauses sentences b A 1st year psych student must learn a whole new vocabulary 3 Grammar a Structure of language in two parts morphology b rules for making plurals changing tense turning noun to action word negation and syntax b where to put negation ordering of subject and object 4 Pragmatics a Rules for changing language as a function of context b Talk differently when party versus in class speak to adult versus baby speak versus write paper text message versus letter 3 Define and give example of a Phoneme Legitimate sounds a sound that we can make the basic unit of a language s phonetic system the smallest sound units that affect meaning b Morpheme A language s smallest unit of meaning such as a prefix suffix or root word 4 What is the difference between syntax and morphology What do they have in common Syntax is the part of grammar that prescribes how words may combine into phrases clauses and sentences Morphology is the study of morphemes Both are rules of sentence structure speech Better explains under grammar 5 We discussed 3 different theories of language development 1 Traditional Learning Theory 2 Nativist Theory and 3 Social Interactionist Theory also called Social Discourse Theory For each of these 3 theories the theory in detail How is it similar to and different from the other 2 theories whether it views children as active or passive learners of language a Explain b Explain c What does it view as the role of biology in contributing to language development d What does it view as the role of environment in contributing to language development Traditional Learning Theory a Learning a language is the same as learning behavior traditional old mostly refuted now explanations use the principle of reinforcement to account for language development by giving their greatest approval to the infant s closest approximations to adult speech sounds parents shape their child s verbal behavior into what increasingly resembles adult speech propose that child learns primarily through imitation or observational learning then through reinforcement and generalization applying what she has learned to new situations the child learns when it is appropriate to use particular words and phrases mostly environmental POV b Passive c We come predisposed to respond to operant conditioning ex Reinforcement to imitate Note that is the biological part of it but not really much a biological theory environmental d Environment is needed to help the child learn because they are passively taking in their experiences around them Nativist Theory a We re biologically programmed LAD to learn language any language regardless of a baby s genes all human languages display universal features children acquire language quickly learn it well so child must be biologically prepared to acquire language critical periods apply until puberty for language development b Active c Born w LAD language acquisition device proposed mental structure in human nervous system that guides their acquisition of language grammar programmed to pick up phonemes words grammar that you re exposed to d Need exposure for child to pick up language Do NOT need to reinforce correct lang or provide corrections Social Interactionist Theory a Language is learned in the context of spoken language but assuming as well that humans are in some way biologically prepared for learning to speak the child s own active role in language development complements the role played by socializing agents language acquisition is not separate from other aspects of development language development occurs in a rich behavioral and developmental context in which children try to accomplish meaningful goals and engage in relationships with others b Active c Born with LAD d Social discourse conversation between parent child to promote language learning provides a LASS language acquisition support system a collection of strategies tactics that environmental influences mostly parents provide the language learning child normal language Refutes nativist discourse Supports Supports develops as a result of a delicate balance between parent child understanding when parents speak to children in a way that recognizes how much the children already know understand they increase their child s chance of comprehending a novel message 6 Scientific Evidence Related to Theories of Language Development a Know and be able to explain each of the research findings presented in class Most are also in text b For each finding be able to explain how it supports and or refutes a particular theory or theories Parents don t hold off reinforcement until kids use good pronunciation or grammar Language impaired kids benefit from modeling of correct sounds words grammar holding off reinforcement until child does it correctly Supports traditional learning partially Kids learn language w little instruction some learn language w out reinforcement or social nativist refutes traditional interactionist Many similarities across different languages Suggests biological programming nativist interactionist If not exposed to consistent grammar rules e g parents speak Pidgin kids develop own grammar Creole Creole rules similar around world Supports nativist interactionist Social Discourse behaviors facilitate language development Supports interactionist After 1 year babies lose ability to discriminate sounds not in their own language they become specialist suggests critical period for language development Support Quality quantity of language in home related to how fast child learns language nativist interactionist Could support interactionist nativist traditional 7 Which is the most widely accepted theory of language development Explain why it is the most accepted Social Interactionist much evidence for LAD social discourse much evidence refutes Traditional Learning 8 Language Milestones a Babbling 1 What is babbling strings of consonant vowel combinations ex ba ca 2 By what
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