CLD Speech: Holophrastic, two word and telegraphic stage

What is a holophrase?

When one word can convey a complete idea or a larger utterance

What is a diminutive?

A name, formed through the addition of a suffix, that is used informally to show a degree of relative smallness

Why might we see lots of diminutives in the holophrastic stage?

Caregivers may use them for ease of reduplication on the child's part and to provide a vocally pleasing word

When do two word sentences usually appear?

Around 18 months

What is a key feature of two word utterances?

They are usually in a grammatically correct sequence

What are the 4 most common constructions?

Subject + verb
Verb + object
Subject + object
Subject + complement

What do children commonly do when repeating?

Omit elements like grammatical function words but retain the correct order

What are grammatical function words and why are they commonly omitted?

Determiners, conjunctions and prepositions because they carry less information

What complex meanings can be expressed by two word utterances?

Possession, action, location and interrogatives

Why does ambiguity arise

Most function words, inflections, possessives, plurals and past tense are omitted

What is the telegraphic stage?

When a child can combine 3 or more words, utterances are similar to the construction of a telegram or text

What are key developments in the telegraphic stage?

Construction of question, negatives and pronouns

How many stages are involved in acquiring the skill of constructing questions?

3

How are questions constructed in the two word stage?

Questions rely on rising intonation

How are questions constructed in the second year?

Question words are acquired but the order of sentences aren't always correct

How are questions constructed in the third year?

Auxiliary verbs and inversion is used so that the question word is in the right place in relation to the auxiliary

Who studied negation?

Bellugi (1966)

How many stages are involved in using negation?

3

What happens in the first stage of using negation?

Rejection at the start/ends of sentences. Mostly uses no and not

What happens at the second stage of using negation?

Moves no/not inside the sentences

What happens in the third stage of negation?

Attaches the negative to auxiliary verbs securely

Who studied pronoun acquisition?

Bellugi 1966

How many stages are there in pronoun acquisition?

3

What is the first stage of pronoun acquisition?

The child uses their own name

What is the second stage of pronoun acquisition?

The child recognises the I/me pronouns and that they're used in different places

What is the third stage of pronoun acquisition?

The child uses pronouns according to whether they are in the subject or object position

What are inflections?

Generally endings of words that change the grammatical function or attribute such as tense, mood or gender

Who studied the acquisition of inflection?

Brown (1973)

What study did Brown carry out?

Wugs

What age range was used in Brown's study?

20 - 36 month olds

What did Brown find in his study?

That inflections are acquired in a predictable pattern

What is the first inflection acquired?

-ing, past participle

What is the second inflection acquired?

Plural -s

What is the third inflection acquired?

Possessive -s

What is the fourth inflection acquired?

Determiners "A" and "The"

What is the fifth inflection acquired?

Past tense -ed

What is the sixth inflection acquired?

Third person singular verb ending -s

What is the seventh inflection acquired?

Auxiliary "be"

When is the grammatical rule for plural -s applied?

At age 3 - 4