Language Development and Bilingualism

These flashcards encompass key vocabulary and concepts regarding language acquisition, bilingualism, and related disorders, providing foundational understanding for the exam.

Child-directed speech (CDS)

A specialized way of speaking to young children that includes exaggerated intonation, simplified grammar, and a higher pitch.

Generative linguistics

A linguistic theory that posits language is governed by a set of rules with infinite generative capacity.

Poverty of the stimulus

The argument that the linguistic input available to children is insufficient for them to fully acquire their native language.

Universal grammar

The innate framework that allows humans to acquire language, consisting of fixed principles and variable parameters.

Minimalist theory

The theory that the core of human language involves recursion, which allows for the creation of complex structures.

Critical period

The time frame during which language acquisition must occur for optimal development, particularly relevant in early childhood.

Referential vocabulary

A type of vocabulary characterized by a focus on object labels and the use of two-word combinations.

Expressive vocabulary

A type of vocabulary that includes more personal-social expressions, pronouns, and function words.

Language acquisition variation

Differences in language development influenced by input, cultural context, individual differences, and socioeconomic factors.

Phonological development

The growth and evolution of a child's ability to produce and recognize the sound patterns of their language.

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)

A speech and language impairment that occurs without any associated hearing loss or cognitive disability.

Cochlear implants

Devices that provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing.

Sign language

A visual means of communication that uses gestures, facial expressions, and body language, serving as a fully developed language.

Atypical development

Language development that diverges from typical acquisition patterns, often leading to delays or deficits.

Bilingualism

The ability to speak and understand two languages fluently.

Metalinguistic awareness

The understanding of the nature and function of language, including the ability to think about language itself.

Executive function

Cognitive processes that enable goal-directed behavior, including attention control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility.

Code-switching

The practice of alternating between two or more languages or dialects in conversation.

Interlanguage grammar

The evolving linguistic system that learners create based on their first language while acquiring a second language.