Lecture_10_Language_2024__1_

Language Development in Infants

• Principles of Language Acquisition: Language appears to develop rapidly between ages two to three; however, significant language processing occurs during the first year.

• Language Models: There are similarities between how reading and spelling are conceptualized in cognitive psychology.

Topics of Discussion in the Lecture

• Development of Language: Focus on how language evolves and the processes involved in writing.

• Working Memory in Writing: Exploring its role in writing operations.

• Spelling Processes: Investigating spelling methods and the orthographic lexicon's role in both reading and spelling.

Learning Outcomes

1. Discuss ease of speech production.

2. Understand language development, particularly in infants.

3. Describe three key writing processes.

4. Differentiate between good writers and regular writers.

5. Explain the two routes utilized in spelling and their reliance on the graphemic buffer.

Speech Production

• Definition: The act of communicating verbally to an audience while receiving both verbal and non-verbal feedback.

• Challenges: Speaking is cognitively demanding, with individuals able to articulate two to three words per second.

• Research Findings: According to Boiteau et al. (2014), engaging in speech production impairs other cognitive tasks more than speech comprehension.

Coping Mechanisms in Speech Production

• Syntactic Priming: Utilizing recently heard syntactic structures to ease communication.

• Preformulation: Employing familiar phrases in contexts (e.g., sports commentary).

• Underspecification: Simplifying expressions to interact effectively, as seen in casual conversation.

Levels of Speech Production

1. Semantic Level: Understanding meanings.

2. Syntactic Level: Structuring sentences correctly.

3. Morphological Level: Managing word parts.

4. Phonological Level: Sounding out words.

Speech Errors and Their Implications

• Types of Errors:

  • Spoonerisms: Initial letters of words are swapped.

  • Semantic Substitutions: Incorrect words replace intended meanings.

  • Morpheme Exchange Errors: Incorrect attachment of inflections or suffixes.

• Perceptual Loop Theory: Suggests speakers monitor their speech to detect errors and correct them.

Impact of Brain Damage on Speech Production

• Broca's Aphasia: Linked to damage in the inferior frontal gyrus, affecting speech production.

• Wernicke's Aphasia: Resulting from damage in the superior temporal gyrus, leading to comprehension difficulties.

Infant Language Sensitivity

• Initial Sensitivity: Infants are attuned to sounds in their native and other languages, with a clear preference demonstrated by their recognition of phonetic contrasts.

• Critical Period: By ten months, infants' sensitivity to non-native speech sounds diminishes, indicating a critical period for language sound recognition.

Stages of Language Production in Infants

• Pre-speech Stage: Infants initially produce non-speech sounds before babbling begins, progressing to canonical babbling and then to their first words by around 18 months.

• Word Acquisition: Between one and 18 months, children build vocabulary and apply rules for morpheme construction.

Language Comprehension vs. Language Production

• Study by Golmkoff et al. (1987): Demonstrated that comprehension often precedes production, as seen in infants identifying relevant visual stimuli aligned with auditory prompts.

Emergence of Grammar in Children

• Imitation of Adult Speech: Children mimic adult utterances, reflecting their grasp of grammar and sentence structure.

Child Language Development Patterns

• Pivot Words: Specific words that occupy consistent positions in utterances, acquired slowly.

• Open Words: More flexible and quickly acquired words, enabling creative combinations.

Writing Processes

Key Writing Processes by Hayes and Flower (1986)

1. Planning: Conceptual, sociocultural, and metacognitive considerations.

2. Sentence Generation: Creating sentences based on established plans.

3. Revision: Improving and refining written material through directed retrospection.

Key Aspects of Writing

• Writing Expertise: Distinguished between knowledge-telling (just writing down what is known) and knowledge-transforming (synthesizing and presenting themes).

• Revision Importance: A critical component of writing, with expert writers dedicating more time to this process.

Role of Working Memory in Writing

• Working Memory Components: Writing relies on the central executive, phonological loop, and visuo-spatial sketchpad.

• Influence on Performance: A strong correlation exists between essay quality in students and their working memory capabilities.

Spelling Processes

• Goldberg and Rapp’s Two-Route Model (2008):

  • Lexical Route: Utilized for familiar words; impaired in phonological dysgraphia.

  • Non-lexical Route: Used for unfamiliar words; preserved in surface dysgraphia.

Orthographic Lexicon Debate

• Single vs. Multiple Lexicons: Evidence leans towards a single orthographic lexicon being used for both reading and spelling, as consistent brain areas are activated during both tasks.