CS&D 240: Chapter 4

basic research

pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base

applied research

scientific study that aims to solve practical problems

when a theory becomes consistently proven the theory becomes an accepted

explanatory principle

building connections between theory and practice

use inspired basic research addresses useful applications of research findings

speech perception studies

Help explain how children use speech perception to learn language

example of speech perception studies

measuring infants heart rates and kicking of feet as a response of auditory stimuli

other examples of speech perception studies are

head turn preference procedure, and high amplitude nonnutrative sucking procedure

tonotopic maps link parts of the brain to

different types of auditory stimuli

language production studies help inform

practitioners of childrens ability to use language expressively

normative research

Studies in which experts compile data from individuals on a certain aspect of language development and from these data determine and chart the ages (or grades) by which children typically meet certain milestones.

observational

researchers examine childrens language use in a naturalistic or semi structured context

naturalistic study

researcher does not manipulate the contexts of speech

semiconstructional

manipulates the environment for form content and use

expiremental studies

researcher actively manipulates the variables of interests

pseudowords

nonsense words to asses childrens morphological skills

language comprehension studies specifically delve into

what children understand about language

methods for studing language comprehension

researchers tend to try to estimate what children or adults understand rather than produce

an adequate theory for language development will explain one fo these questions

1. What do infants bring to the task of language learning

2. what mechanisms drive language aquisition

3. what types of input suport the language-learning system

some people think that infants are programmed to

learn language

some believe language is domain specefic

parts of brain are soley dedicated to tasks of comprehending and producing language

others believe that language is domain general

same parts of the brain are used for other situations

modularity

theoretical account of how the brain is organized for various cognitive processes

nurture inspired theories are also called

empirist theories

nurture inspired theories are

based on the notion that language learned through experience

nature inspired theories are called

nativest theories

nature inspired theories are

based on the notion that lantuage is innate

between the nature and nurture sides are

interactionist theories

interactionist theories

awknowledges that language develops between the interaction of nature and nurture related functions

nurture inspired theory

behaviorist theory

behaviorist theory

the theory of language development that argues humans learn language through trial/error and gradually learn more effective ways to speak to get what they want

behaviorist theory believes learning is a result of

operant conditioning

proposer of the behaviorist theory

B.F Skinner

Nature inspired theories

universal grammar, modularity theory, bootstrapping theories

universal grammar was proposed by

Noam chomsky

universal grammar is

system of grammatical rules and constraints, consistent in all language

you got this

slay queen

Chomsky believed that

one language module equals one language aquisition device

linquistic competence

innate understanding of language

linguistic performance

comprehension and production of language

modularity theory

brain comprised of highly specialized language modules for specific parts of language processing

innate capactiy is localized to

domain specefic processors

encaptualization

processors act independently from one another

language modules operate independently to perform dedicated functions but

interact at higher levels to procude combinations of functions

bootstrapping theories

children use their knowledge of syntactic categories, word meanings, or the prosodic structure of language to make inferences about other aspects of language

syntactic bootstrapping

the strategy of using the grammatical structure of whole sentences to figure out meaning

semantic bootstrapping

Deduce grammatical structures by using word meanings they acquire through observation

prosodic bootstrapping

infants use their sensitivity to acoustic properties of speech to make inferences on units of language including clauses, words and phrases

social interactionist theory

explains language acquisition as being caused by a motivation to communicate and interact with others

social interactionsit theory uses the

zone of proximal development

cognitive theory

A theory of human development that focuses on changes in how people think over time. According to this theory, our thoughts shape our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.

cognition hypothosis

cognitive achievements must be in place for language achievements to emerge

intentionality model

children's abilities in language, emotional expression, cognition, social interaction, and play develop in tandem

in the intentionality model children are responsible for

driving language learning foreward

competition model

multiple language forms compete until the input strengthens the correct representation

overgeneralization

applying grammar rules in areas they don't apply ("I writed a story"; goed; comed)

connectionvist theories

want to visually represent the inner workings of the brain

nodes

simple processing units akin to neurons

connections

Bring together to establish a link

useage based theory

emphasize social nature of language as an impetus for futhering childrens language abilities

childrens knowledge of language form and meaning stems

from their useage during which they induyce patterns of form and meaning

cognitive principles

ideas governing language processing and automaticity and the role of tangible and intangible rewards that the speaker gains through language use

affective principles

ideas that are related to individual's confidence with language learning and his/her inclination to take risks related to language

linguistic principles

describe the role of a person's native language in simultaneously facilitating and interfering with second language acquisition

two historical methods for teaching English

audiolingual and silent way

Goal of prevention

prevent language differences form emerging

goal of intervention/remedation

strategies and programs to help children who show difficulty

intervention in preschoolers

communicate more effectively

intervention in school-age children

improve academic language skills

goal of enrichment

provide enhanced language learning environment

evidence based practice

integrating theoretical knowledge with scientific inquiry

5 things for making clinical decisions

integrating the needs of children and families, acquiring and maintaining skills for high quality of services, indentifying cost effective and informative screening diagnostic, identify clinical protocols for prevention, continually monitoring and incorporating new high quality research