3.5 phyc

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts discussed in the lecture on Communication and Language Development.

What is language?

A way to express thoughts or ideas, which can be spoken, written, or signed, and is a mutually agreed upon system with rules.

Phonemes

The smallest unit of sound in a language, for example, in the word 'CHAT' the phonemes are CH, A, and T.

Morphemes

The smallest unit of meaning in a language, such as a single word or a prefix/suffix like 'READERS' which consists of the morphemes 'READ', 'ER', and 'S'.

Semantics

The study of meaning in language, including the meanings of words and sentences.

Syntax

The set of rules that govern how words are arranged into sentences.

Grammar

The system of rules that governs how we use our language, including syntax, tenses, and punctuation.

Cooing

The early stage of language development occurring around 6-8 weeks of age, characterized by vowel-like sounds such as 'Oooo' and 'Ahhh'.

Babbling

Occurring around 4 months old, this is characterized by repetitive consonant-vowel sounds like 'Dadada' and 'Gagagaga'.

One-Word Stage

A stage of language development occurring around 12 months, where children use single words to convey ideas, e.g., 'mama', 'dog', 'eat'.

Telegraphic Speech

A stage of language development around 2 years old where children string together 2-3 words, typically nouns and verbs, such as 'go walk' and 'want milk'.

Overgeneralization

A phenomenon occurring between 3-4 years old where grammatical rules are misused, for example, saying 'Daddy goed to the store'.

Critical Periods

Crucial windows in early development where specific environmental experiences are necessary for certain functions to develop.

Sensitive Period

A window of time where acquiring new skills, such as language, is easier but not strictly limited to that time frame.

Broca’s Area

The area of the brain responsible for speech production.

Wernicke's Area

The area of the brain responsible for language comprehension.