Ch. 1 & 2 Language Acquisition

What is language

Shared system people use to communicate ideas through the use of symbols/rules

What is communication

The exchange of information/ideas/needs/desires between 2+ individuals

Suprasegmentals

Features of speech (ex. Tone, stress, pitch) that can change the meaning of the whole sentence

Metacognition

Knowing what to do cognitively and how

meta language/linguistics

• the ability to think/talk about language itself, not just use it

• Helps us see how language works/decide what someone says/writes is correct/appropriate

Syntax

Organizing rules that specify word order, sentence organization, and word relationships

Different theories on dialect

• Deficit Approach

• Sociolinguistic Approach

Deficit Approach (old way of thinking)

• Some dialects are seen as better than others 

• Dialects closest to english were “correct”

• Other dialects being seen as wrong

Sociolinguistic Approach (Modern View)

All dialects are equal and valid forms of language

Morpheme

The smallest piece of a word that carries meaning; free & bound

Speech vs language

• Speech = verbal or spoken means of communicating 

  • Req. precise neuro-muscular coordination

  • Involves voice quality, intonation, & rate; enhance meaning of message 

  • Ex. talking faster when excited 

• Language = socially shared code/system for representing concepts using symbols/rules that govern how they’re used

  • Not monolithic; contains dialects

Generative approach / weakness

aka nativist; humans are born w/ a brain ready for language 

• Kids have built-in rules that help learn how language works (innate)

• Weakness: not all languages follow rules; many phrases are memorized, not made by grammar (ex. idioms/expressions)

Interactionist Approach / weakness

Kids learn language through interaction/environment 

• We can learn language because our brains are big and complex 

• Weakness: does not explain how kids everywhere learn language in similar ways; kids w/ different environments still have similar language development

Language sampling and what can impact

• How many kids are studied

• How much languange is collected

• Who the child is talking to

• The setting/task

• Child’s background (culture, language, etc)

Longitudinal studies

• Studies where researchers follow the same kids over a long time/collect language data from; tests how language develops over time

How many utterances are in an adequate sample

100

Pragmatics

Aspect of language used in certain contexts. (ex. Can I use the salt? Is a polite request, and not a question of ability.

Child-directed speech

Adult speech is adapted when talking to children

Methods of data collection

• SPONTANEOUS CONVERSATIONAL SAMPLING

  • natural observation

  • ensures real-life behaviors

• STRUCTURED TESTING

  • may not reflect everyday use

What does slp do?

help people w/ communication disorders (cause/severity) and help to diagnose/treat them

Two main interactionalist ideas

• Emergentism

• Constructivism

Emergentism

language that rose from already existing interacting patterns in the brain

Constructivism

Language is learned by using, not by following inborn rules; made of patterns which combine w/ purpose of communicating