Child Language Development

Learning language theories

– behavioral
– nativist
– interactionist

Behavioral theory

language learned through experience (skinner)

Learning language theories

– behavioral
– nativist
– interactionist

Behavioral theory

language learned through experience (skinner)

Nativist (Generative) theory

children bro with innate mechanism for learning language (Chomsky)

Interactionist theory

infant predisposed to learn lang. and also learns through experience

Newborn– 1month (4)

– prefer human sounds
– productive reflexive sounds (crying)
– can discriminate b/w different speech sounds
– by 1 m.o initiate interactions with caregivers

2–3 months (2)

– 2m.o= cooing begins
– 3m.o= gradual turn–taking emerges

4–6 months (2)

– babbling begins (random sound play and no attached meaning)
– 6m.o increase interest in toys

Reduplicated Babbling

long strings of CV repetitions (7–12 m.o)

Variegated Babbling

syllables produced w/o repetition (7–12 m.o)

Jargon

babbling w/ adult–like intonation (7–12m.o)

7–9 months (2)

– intentionality/ purposeful communication behavior
– use gestures to communictae

10–12 months (2)

– receptive language emerges
– first meaningful words

13–18 months (3)

– plateau in expressive lang.
– follow variety of commands
– may use single word to represent variety of purposes

18–24 months (2)

– lexicon (personal dictionary 150/300 words)
– Combine words (connect words w/o grammer)

2–3 years (5)

– improved syntax and morphology
– overgeneralization
– poor topic maintenance
– primary communicate with caregiver
– start to discuss topics not in "here and now"

3–4 years (6)

– MLU increases
– master grammatical morphemes
– negatives and questions evolve
– large vocab growth
– better at holding topics
– begins considering speaker's perspective

4–5 years (3)

– talking more with peers
– better conversationalists
– know most syntax rules

5–6 years

– firm grasp of lang. by kindergarten
– lang. skills important for school success

School–age and adolescence (6)

– mode change (reading and writing)
– develop meta–linguistic skills
– rate of development slows
– conversational skills develop
– vocab grows
– figurative language develops