Language Development

what are the basic processes of language development according to the behaviorist perspective?

driven by the language environment, such as reinforcement and imitation

does the research support the behaviorist perspective?

somewhat

what is Chomsky's nativist argument? how is language naturally developed?

language is universal, self-motivating, and due to a language organ combined with universal grammar

criticisms of the nativist argument

grammar of different languages is incredibly diverse, no concrete evidence of a "language organ"

what sounds do infants distinguish? what do they categorize like adults?

distinguish all language sounds; categorize p and b the same way

evidence for teaching language

children learn vocab faster, parents supply words

evidence against teaching language

adults rarely correct incorrect grammar, in some cultures adults don't speak to children

how do infants differentiate words?

via statistical probabilities - some syllable sequences paired more often than others

Saffran et al (1996) - Statistical Probabilities

method: nonsense words without spaces for 2 minds, whether babies differentiated nonsense words they heard vs new words

conclusion: children can tell what sounds go together with little experience and no spaces

Tincoff and Juscyzk (1999) - Linking Words to Objects

method: played videos of both parents on different screens to 6 month olds and played voice saying mommy or daddy

results: infant looked longer at named parent

what is fast mapping?

when children can figure out meaning of a word after hearing it only a few times in context

fast mapping assumptions

word refers to whole object, object has one name

fast mapping grammatical cues

transitive vs intransitive words, duck gorping the bunny vs the duck and bunny are gorping

fast mapping social cues

adults give context

Baldwin (1991) - Social Cues

gaze following helps children correctly identify object using novel word

Tomasello and Barton (1994) - Social Cues

accidentally perform action with new word, children don't associate the two

do infants learn nouns more easily?

no, Western parents just use more nouns

examples of one-word phase stage

"ball" or "milk" means "I want the ball (or milk)"

examples of two-word phase stage

"Mommy sleep" or "milk allgone"

underextensions

only using word for specific referents

ex: "bottle" for only the specific bottle they drink out of

overextension

using word that doesn't fit

ex: calling a cat a "doggie"

why are overextensions logical/useful?

comprehend more than can produce due to limited vocab

how is grammar fine tuned?

via overgeneralization - children figure out grammar pattern but overapply the rule (ex: "mouses")

critical period

brain is especially receptive to grammar learning before puberty, new languages can only be fully learned early

evidence for a critical period

immigrants to US before vs after age 8, "late learners" of sign language

evidence against a critical period

adults can learn English as well as native speakers, language-learning is gradual -> sensitive period