Language and Thinking

Vocabulary flashcards based on key concepts from the 'Language and Thinking' lecture notes.

Critical period

A period in childhood when experience with language produces optimal language acquisition.

Phoneme

The basic building blocks of language, consisting of consonant and vowel sounds.

Morpheme

The smallest meaningful units of a language, including words, prefixes, and suffixes.

Infant-directed speech

A special form of speech to infants characterized by a higher pitch, exaggerated intonation, and slower pace.

Holophrase

A one word utterance used by a child to communicate more than the typical meaning of that word.

Overextension

Defining a word too broadly.

Underextension

Defining a word too narrowly.

Fast Mapping

The process of connecting new words with their referents quickly without considering all possible meanings.

Executive control

Cognitive process responsible for the regulation of thoughts and actions, particularly in bilinguals.

Broca's area

The area of the brain involved in language production.

Wernicke's area

The area of the brain involved in speech comprehension.

Bilingualism

The ability to speak and understand two languages.

Telegraphic speech

Early child language that exhibits the basic grammatical properties common across many languages.

Joint attention

A social interaction where parents label items that toddlers touch or look at, enhancing learning.

Vocabulary spurt

The rapid expansion of a child's vocabulary, typically occurring around two years of age.

Naming insight

The realization that all things have names or that words refer to things.

Behaviorist explanations

Theories suggesting that language is learned through reinforcement and conditioning.

Nativist explanations

Theories positing that the capacity for language is innate and involves language acquisition devices.

Interactionist explanations

Theories that propose social interactions are crucial for language development.