CHILD PSYCH EXAM 3 Language Development Language is a monumental achievement a lot learned in a short time by 4 5 years know 14 000 words know rules of grammar not exceptions know how to modify speech to fit situation know the exceptions to rules by 7 8 years Functions 1 Communication info needs desires opinions emotions 2 Influence Others 3 Make Decisions 4 Control Emotions behaviors 5 Escape from reality via fantasy day dream Four Components of Language 1 Phonology rules for which sounds sound combos and intonations are legitimate Phoneme legitimate sounds 45 Tu gu hu du ah vs trilled r throaty ch Phoneme Combos bik kib brimk Intonation question vs statement 2 Semantics meaning of words and word combos 3 Grammar structure of language Morphology rules for manipulating morphemes Morpheme smallest unit of language that has meaning words prefixes suffixes un ed pre ing rules for making plurals changing tense turning noun to action negation Syntax how words are ordered in a sentence where to put negation Ordering subject and object 4 Pragmatics rules for changing language as function of context talk different at a party vs in class speak differently towards baby or adult how you speak vs writing a paper text vs a letter Theories of Language Development 1 Traditional Learning Theory learning language is the same as learning other behaviors certain principles that apply to all learning and there is nothing different about learning a language Reinforcement phonemes words grammar bad vs good grammar or pronunciation shaping process gradual process Imitation and generalization Role of Biology predisposed to respond to reinforcements and to imitate Role of Child passive role parents must actively shape language 2 Nativist Theory genes we are biologically programmed to learn language any language regardless of baby s can learn any language not just your parents language born with LAD LAD language acquisition device programmed to pick up phonemes words and grammar you re exposed to Role of Environment need exposure for child to pick up the language Do not need to reinforce correct language or provide corrections NOT born with phonemes words or grammar of genetic language if parents are French the baby is not biologically predisposed to speak French Role of Child active role child figures out rules 3 Social Interactionist Theory biologically predisposed to learn any language LAD environment provides a LASS LASS language acquisition support system communication with adults about something meaningful is crucial hand baby bottle but explain that it is a bottle Repetition of word not just listening to an adult or adults communicating social discourse Parents discourse behaviors that help often not intentional 1 Games that involve turn taking with infant 2 Parentese often gets baby s attention high pitch slow simple rise intonation at the end 3 Provide more advanced speech when baby is ready gradually increasing complexity 4 Expansion and Recasting baby says kitty eat parent says yes the kitty is eating expansion Or parent says yes what is the kitty eating recasting Do not need to reinforce for correct language or correct mistakes Role of Child active role because baby is trying to figure things out and parents are talking about meaningful things to help Evidence for and against theories each finding either supports or refutes one or more theories 1 Parent s don t hold off reinforcement until kids use good pronunciation or grammar supports NATIVISIT Refutes TRADITIONAL 2 Language impaired kids benefit from modeling of correct sounds words and grammar Hold off reinforcement until child does it correctly Supports TRADITONAL but only partially because it may not apply to normal language development 3 Kids learn language with little instruction and some learn language without reinforcements or social discourse Supports NATIVIST but only partially because only some children do that Refutes traditional and interactionist to some degree 4 Many similarities across different languages suggest biological programming Supports NATIVIST AND INTERACTIONIST 5 Novelty in children s speech not heard by adults foots braked suggesting kids actively trying to apply rules Supports NATIVIST AND INTERACTIONIST Refutes traditional learning theory which stresses imitation 6 If not exposed to consistent grammar rules parents speak pidgin kids develop their own grammar called Creole Creole languages have similar rules all over the world Supports NATIVIST AND INTERACTIONIST 7 If parents had to reinforce each aspect of speech should take years longer to learn Refutes traditional learning theory 8 Social discourse behaviors facilitate language development Supports INTERACTIONIST 9 After one year babies lose ability to discriminate sounds that are not in their own language become specialist Critical period for language development Supports NATIVIST AND INTERACTIONIST 10 Nicaragua school for deaf did not teach sign language Kids develop own sign language similar to Creole But the adults did not Suggests that there is a critical period language development and the kids look for consistent rules for Supports NATIVIST AND INTERACTIONIST 11 Rules of pragmatics vary across cultures Refutes PURE NATIVIST Supports interactionist or traditional 12 Quality and quantity of language in home related to how fast a child learns language Supports ALL THREE Most widely supported theory Social Interactionist Theory EXAM May list the above statements and ask to which theory does it apply Lots of evidence for LAD and for the role of social discourse Lost of evidence that refutes traditional learning theory Language Development Milestones On exam 1 Cooing vowel sounds 1 Month 2 Babbling strings of consonant and vowel combos 6 Months 3 Babbling only sounds of the language to which the baby is exposed 8 9 months narrowed babbling biological program to focus on sounds Do deaf babies babble YES similar to hearing babies derived internally Deaf babies whose parents sign to them and do not speak will babble with hands and fingers Consistent with nativist and interactionist theories 4 First Words Understanding words develop faster than usage Use first word by 10 15 months around 1 year In the US first words often more nouns than verbs But less so in countries where parents do less pointing and naming and less so where parents stress actions Tend to be nouns the baby can act on Ball table toy etc Learn through involvement often holophrases Japan one
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