Language Development Exam #1

Language Definition

a complex and dynamic system of conventional symbols that is used in various modes for thought and communication

Characteristics of language

It is a code- word referent relationships are arbitrary (rules)

It is dynamic- changing constantly

The system is conventional- it is a rule based system

It is a tool for communication- makes human species unique

Speech defintion

neuromuscular process by which humans turn language into a sound signal that is transmitted through the air to a receiver

Hearing defintion

sensory system that allows speech to enter/ be processed by the brain

7 purposes of Communication

Instrumental- ask/ request for something

Regulatory- direct others, give directions

Interactional- social conversation

Personal- express state of mind/ feelings

Heuristic- inquire/ find out info about something

Imaginative- tell stories/ role play

Informative- organized description of event or object

3 Domains of Language

Form - 3 comp (how we put language together)

Content - 1 comp (meaning of language)

Use - comp (purpose/ social)

5 Components of Language

Phonology (form)

Morphology (form)

Syntax (form)

Semantics (content)

Pragmatics (use)

Phonology

language rules governing the sounds used to make syllables

Morphology

language rules governing the internal organization of words

Syntax

language rules governing the internal organization of sentences

Semantics

rules of language governing the meaning of individual words and word combos

Pragmatics

the rules of social exchange

-communication interactions, conversation, social conventions

5 reasons why language is remarkable

species specificity

acquisition rate

universality

semanticity

productivity

Language differences vs Language disorders

differences- describe natural variation in language secondary to factors

disorders- occur in individuals with significant difficulties in language achievement

What two ways in which infants begin to segment speech streams into individual words

1.) prosodic cues→ infants draw on familiarity with word and syllable stress patterns, or the rhythm of language

2.) phonotactic cues-→ infants become sensitive to the probability that certain sounds will occur in both general and specific postions of the word

Why is it important that children develop good phonological awareness

Ability to attend to phonological units of speech

it is an auditory skill, able to make connections, rhyming, first sound vs last sound

ability to recognize and manipulate the sounds of language

Phonological awareness vs phonemic awareness

Phonological- broader term focuses on all parts of language

Phonemic- the awareness of individual phonemes (smallest unit of sound) in words and the ability to manipulate them

The 2 factors that impact or influence the 5 components of language

Why is MLU important when assessing a childs language development

can estimate syntactic complexity in the first 5 yrs of development

Which parts of language make up grammar

syntax and morphology

How does grammar relate to language development and/ or language disorders

Relationship between science and theory

theories provide the foundation for scientific studies, and the outcomes of scientific studies help experts refine theories

What are the 4 main theories of language development

Behaviorist Theory

Nativist/ Universal Grammar

Social Interactionist Theory

Cognitive Theory

Theorists for Cognitive theory

Piaget

Theorists for Social Interactionist

Vygotsky

Theorists for Nativist/ Universal Grammar

Chomsky

Theorists for Behaviorist theory

Skinner

Behaviorist Theory

learning through operant condiditioning and reinforcment

-language is not innate

-children learn through their environment

Nativist/ Universal Grammar Theory

Langauge Acquisition Device (LAD)

-children are born with universal grammar

children are born with linguistic competence and they use their input to learn the paramaters of their language

Social Interactions Theory

children learn through their experiences and social interactions

learning takes place in the childs zone of proximal development-→ difference between a childs actual and potential development

Cognitive Theory

language development is the product of the child’s experiences with the physical environment and their cognitive development

-children construct their knowledge of the world through schemas

-language is acquired through imitation

-has 4 stages