language structure and development

language

a system of communication that uses signals to convey meaning and follows grammatical rules

Grammar

Rules for how units of language are combined to create meaningful communictation

phoneme

rules for how units of language are combined to create meaningful communication

morpheme

the smallest meaningful unit of languag( s makes a noun plural)

syntax

rules for combing morphmes/words into meaningful phrases and sentences

comprhension precedes production

children understand language before they can produce it

babbling(4-6 months)

first speech like sounds, universal order of sounds; deaf babies bable with hands

word comprehension(6-10) months

infants begin to understand words

word production(10-12 months)

first spoken words appear

two-word speech(18-24 months)

short phrases using essential content words(more milk)

telegraphic speech

only content words; follows syntax rules even without filler words

overregularization(3-5 years)

applying grammatical rules incorrectly

vocabulary at 18 months

50-200 words

vocabulary at 5 years

10000 words

30 million word gap

children exposed to less language early in life show slower vocabulary growth(hart and risley)