Introduction to Language Development

• The development of language is a critical milestone in children's overall cognitive and social development.

  • It lays the foundation for communication, literacy, and cultural expression.

• Philosophical perspectives on language, such as those presented by René Descartes, point to the unique properties of human language, differentiating it from other forms of animal communication by aspects like grammar and syntax.

Basic Terminology in Language Development

• According to Paul Bloom, language functions as a code that represents ideas through a conventional system of arbitrary signals.

• It's important to differentiate terminology, as understanding concepts such as "language" versus "communication" is essential in the field.

• Language encompasses various elements, including grammar, syntax, phonetics, semantics, and pragmatics, and is not restricted to the spoken form.

Communication vs. Language

• While communication exists in many forms across the animal kingdom, it is typically characterized by a lack of the structural complexity that human language exhibits.

• For instance, vervet monkeys utilize specific warning cries to alert others of danger, showcasing a sophisticated yet different communication system.

• Notably, humans can possess language skills without speech through modalities such as sign language, which illustrates the deep cognitive aspects of language understanding.

Language and Cultural Preservation

• The threat to global languages is severe, with a language dying approximately every 14 days.

• This loss not only affects linguistic diversity but also endangers cultural heritage, as languages carry intrinsic knowledge and values of their speakers.

• By the year 2100, it is predicted that half of the world's approximately 7,000 languages may disappear,

  • this results in the loss of critical cultural knowledge and identity.

• In countries like Australia, significant language loss is evident;

  • only about 40 out of 250 indigenous languages remain actively spoken today, raising concerns about cultural survival.

Learning and Knowledge Acquisition in Infants

• Research shows that infants have an exceptional ability to determine meanings from the stimuli around them, even before they acquire a full vocabulary.

• Eye-tracking studies have demonstrated that children fixate on objects corresponding to words spoken by adults,

  • a crucial mechanism for mapping language to the world.

• Engaging visuals and context-rich interactions significantly enhance the efficacy of language learning during this formative stage.

Theories of Language Acquisition

• There are contrasting views surrounding language acquisition. Early theories predominantly focused on:

  • behaviorism,

  • emphasizing imitation and

  • reinforcement;

  • however, these do not adequately account for the complex nature of children's language development.

• The cases of feral children, such as

  • Genie, who experienced extreme isolation, and

  • Johan, who was raised among primates

    • yet later learned language after human exposure, illustrate the profound effects of social deprivation on language acquisition and the necessity of social interaction for complete language mastery.

Unique Cases Against Imitation Theories

• Genie's experience highlighted striking limitations in her language development despite later exposure to language,

  • indicating that critical windows exist for effective language learning.

• Johan's case, raised with primates but ultimately learning language after being exposed to humans,

  • indicates the essential role of a social environment conducive to linguistic growth.

Sensitive Periods in Language Learning

• Language acquisition theories advocate for the sensitive period hypothesis, which posits that children learn language most naturally when exposed early.

• The outcomes of language exposure during this sensitive period vary significantly as children age;

  • those beyond the age of critical exposure often face challenges in acquiring a new language fluently.

• Nativist perspectives suggest innate capabilities for language acquisition, supported by both biological factors and experience-dependent learning.

Infant Phonemic Discrimination

• Research indicates that infants possess the ability to discriminate sounds from all linguistic backgrounds,

  • a skill that begins to wane as they focus more on their native language by around 10 to 12 months of age.

• As infants develop their speaking abilities, they gradually lose the capacity to differentiate sounds that do not appear in their immediate linguistic environment,

  • emphasizing the role of exposure in language development.

Vocabulary Development

• Around 18 months, infants experience a vocabulary spurt,

  • often learning 10-20 new words weekly, though this can vary considerably based on their language exposure.

• The noted phenomenon of overextension errors occurs when children incorrectly apply learned words too broadly,

  • often based on perceived similarities or characteristics they observe in objects and concepts around them.

Language Structure and Usage

• Children's language use transitions through phases,

• evolving from holophrastic speech, where single words stand in for full ideas,

• to telegraphic speech, characterized by simple two or three-word sentences that convey more complex thoughts.

• Gaps in children's morphological understanding illustrate the hurdles they face as they work to master the intricacies of language consistently.

Grammatical Development in Children

• As children acquire language, they begin to learn grammatical rules,

  • often making errors that reflect their understanding of the underlying structures.

• For instance, they might regularize irregular verbs, showcasing their intuitive grasp of language patterns and grammar.

• This indicates a remarkable sophistication in children's linguistic abilities, allowing them to learn and manipulate language without needing formal instruction.

Nativist Perspective

• Noam Chomsky's nativist theory posits that humans possess an innate language acquisition device (LAD) that allows them to detect and apply grammatical rules from the speech they encounter.

• This adeptness promotes language learning, even in conditions of varied input quality, pointing to the resilience of the human brain in navigating linguistic complexities.

Child-Directed Speech

• Child-directed speech (CDS) is characterized by simplified vocabulary, exaggerated intonation, and a focus on immediate contexts.

• While research indicates that CDS can enhance language acquisition, it is not universally necessary;

  • various cultures exhibit different patterns of language exposure that still effectively foster children's linguistic development.

Conclusion on Language Learning

• In conclusion, children's language learning is a complex interplay of:

  • natural ability,

  • social interaction, and

  • environmental factors,

• where both innate biological capacities and social experiences are essential for fulfilling linguistic competencies.

• Successful language development hinges on a rich tapestry of influences that shape children's linguistic pathways as they navigate the journey of communication and understanding.