Unit 3: Language Development

Language

mutually agreed upon system of spoken, written, or signed words that are generally rule-governed to communicate meaning

Phonemes

smallest unit of language within a distinctive sound unit (ie: dog --> /d/ + /o/ + /g/)

Morphemes

smallest unit of language that carries meaning; prefixes, roots, etc. (ie: percent = per(prefix) + cent(root))

Grammar

a system of rules enabling us to communicate and understand each other

Semantics

rules for deriving meaning from a word

Syntax

rules for creating sensible sentences

Overgeneralization

syntax and grammatical errors

Language development (Prenatal)

-Early hearing development: fetuses can start to hear around the 24th week of pregnancy

-Prosody recognition: babies can learn prosody (rhythm and stress patterns) in utero; crucial for understanding speech

-Brain development: exposure to speech in womb influences brain development, particularly areas related to speech processing

Language development (Infancy)

-Cooing

-Babling I

-Babbling II

-One Word

-Telegraphic

Cooing

-Spontaneous single vowel sounds

-"ooh," "ahh"

-2 months

Babbling I

-Spontaneous random sounds

-"goo," "bahh," "mahh"

-4 months

Babbling II

Sounds related to language

-"mama," "dada"

-10 months

One word

-Single comprehensible words

-"kitty," "bottle," "cookie"

-12-24 months

Telegraphic

-Two word "sentences"

-"go car," "bad dog"

-24+ months

Langauge development (childhood, adolescence, adulthood)

-Full sentences

-Increasingly correct grammar

-Increased vocabulary

-Increased use of complex language

-Increased use of social, academic, and professional language

Nonverbal Manual Gestures

visible, bodily actions used to communicate messages; used in all stages of development

-Toddler points at toy they want and babble

-Preschooler says "I don't know" with palms raised