Lifespan Development CH 9

Language

a system of symbols used to communicate meaning

Sensitive vs critical periods

optimal time for learning vs mandatory time frame for acquisition.

Infinite generativity

ability to create an unlimited number of meaningful sentences using a limited number of words

Phonology

rules for speech sounds

Phoneme

smallest sound unit

ex /b/ /m/ /t/

morphology

rules for word formation

morpheme

smallest unit of meaning

ex dog, -ed, -ing

Syntax

rules for arranging words into sentences

ex the dog chased the cat NOT dog the cat chased

Semantics

meaning of words

Pragmatics

social rules of language

ex knowing not to interrupt someone

Language development in Infancy

crying

cooing

babbling

gestures

first words

Crying

first form of communication

Cooing

around 2m

soft vowel sounds

ex oooo

Babbling

around 6m

repeating consonant-vowel sounds

ex dadada

Gestures

pointing helps language development

First words

around 12m

ex mama, dog, ball

Receptive vocabulary

words a child understands

Spoken vocabulary

words a child actually says

Vocabulary spurt

rapid increase in vocable around 18m

Overextension vs overgeneralization

using words too broadly

ex calling every animal dog

VOCAB

VS

GRAMMAR

applying grammar rules incorrectly

ex I goed, I runned

Telegraphic speech

two word sentences

ex want cookie. daddy go.

Fast mapping

learning a new word after very little expose

Early literacy

learning letters, sounds, print awareness

metalinguistic awareness

thinking about language itself

ex recognizing jokes, rhymes

Mutual exclusivity

children assume objects have only one name

ex id they know “dog” they’ll assume a new word means something else

Phonics approach

teaches letter-sound relationships

ex C-A-T →cat

Whole-language approach

emphasizes understanding whole words and stories

Fluency

reading smoothly and accurately

Writing development

children gradually improve spelling, grammar, organization

Bilingualism

learning two languages

benefits:

• better executive functioning

• better attention

• greater cognitive flexibility

Adolescence metaphor and satire

better understanding indirect comparisons and using humor to criticize society

ex time is money

Adulthood and aging

vocab often increases

word-finding becomes slower with age

Broca’s area

controls speech production

damage → difficulty speaking

speech is slow and effortful

Wernicke’s area

controls language comprehension

damage → speech is fluent but doesn’t make sense

difficulty understanding language

Aphasia

language impairment caused by brain damage

can affect:

• speaking

• reading

• writing

• understanding

Language Acquisition Device

Chomsky proposed humans are born with an innate ability to learn language

supports the idea of a sensitive period

Environmental influences

• child-directed speech

• recasting

• expanding

• labeling

• contingency learning and shared attention

• quantity and quality of language exposure

• bilingualism

Child-directed speech

“parentese”

higher pitch, slower speech, simple sentences

Recasting

child: I goed outside

adult: Yes, you went outside

Expanding

child: dog run.

adult: the dog is running fast.

Labeling

naming objects

Contingency learning

adults respond immediately to a child’s communication

this encourages language development

Shared attention

adult and child focus on the same object

ex reading a picture book together

Quantity and quality of language exposure

Children learn language best when they hear

• many words

• rich conversations

• responsive communication

Quality matters just as much as quantity