Biological Bases of Language Acquisition Part 3

What makes language and language acquisition possible?

• specialization

• human language (characteristics)

• acquisition

Desribe language acquisition for children

• acquire language

  • a grammar (system of rules)

  • used for communication

Describe language acquisition for animals (primates)

• can communicate (e.g. sign language)

• cannot acquire a grammar

What are the major differences between primates and children when it comes to acquisition?

• rate of acquisition

• retention

• errors

• function of language

Explain the similarities between children and primates with acquisition?

• understand (comprehend) more than they can say (produce)

What are the mechanisms of acquisition?

• categorical perception

• statistical learning

What is categorical perception?

• processing of speech sounds

  • done using categories

• categorical perception e.g VOT /pa/ /ba/

  • shared across species but categoires and boundaries differ

What is statistical learning?

• ability to isolate repeating units in the speech stream

• e.g . padotigolabubidagolabupiro 

• shared across species

• differences in preference

  • syllables (primates) vs sounds (infants)

language faculty