eng lang CLA

theory of universal grammar

Chomsky proposes that children are born with innate knowledge about the structure of language, which allows them to adopt any language

the language acquisition device (LAD)

chomsky posits that children are born with a language acquistion device - a structure in the brain that allows children to organise the language that they hear in various grammatical ways. Therefore, a child is hardwired to learn language

usage based theory

tomasello proposes that children acquire language through social interaction in combination with their general cognitive skills. therefore, language learning results from the accumulation of knowledge and skills gained through language use across a child’s life

social interaction techniques

imitation, corrective feedback, infant-directed speech

imitation

mimicking gestures and words

corrective feedback

recasting what the child has said in the correct way

infant-directed speech

using a higher pitch, exaggerated intonation, simple vocabulary, speaking slowly

cognitive skills that assist language learning

intention reading, pattern finding, analogy

intention reading

when a child determines the communicative goals or intentions of the adult speaker

pattern finding

recognising patterns in language

analogy

recognising and comparing similar characteristics in 2 different components of language (making a generalisation)

stages of CLA

prelinguistic, babbling, holophrastic, two-word, telegraphic, multi-word

prelinguistic and babbling stage

1-11 months, cooing, duplication of syllables, learning how to control voice, make sounds with vowels and consonants, using different syllables

holophrastic stage

1-1.5 years, elision, reduplication of words, 50% of all utterances are nouns, mean length of utterance is 1-2 words, follows simple 1 step commands, hand gestures

two word stage

1.5-2 years, intonation when asking questions, use of possessive emerging, begins to use verbs and adjectives, responds to yes/no questions

telegraphic stage

2-3 years, simplified syntax often omitting articles and auxiliary verbs, overgeneralisation, elision, substitution, present progressive verbs, regular plural forms, irregular and regular past tense, uses ‘s’ for possession, pronouns, contractions, future tense, mean length of utterance is 3.1 words, 5 W’s questions

multiword stage

3+ years, rapid vocabulary growth, grammar development, multiple clauses, conjunctions

whole object assumption

referring to a whole object not a part of it or a quality the object possesses

morphological overgeneralisation

applying a grammatical rule too widely