3.5

UNIT 3: Development and Learning

Module 3.5: Communication and Language Development

Language Acquisition and Universal Grammar

• Language: Systems of spoken, written, or signed words for communication.

• Phoneme: Smallest sound unit in a language.

• Morpheme: Smallest meaningful unit (e.g., words or prefixes).

• Grammar: Rules for communication; includes semantics (meaning) and syntax (structure).

• Universal Grammar (UG): Innate ability to grasp grammar across languages (Chomsky's theory).

Milestones in Language Development

• Babbling Stage: Starts around 4 months; infants utter random sounds.

• One-word Stage: Ages 1-2; children use single words (e.g., "mommy").

• Two-word Stage: Begins around age 2; children speak in simple phrases (e.g., "want cookie").

• Telegraphic Speech: Simplified phrases using mainly nouns and verbs (e.g., "go car").

• Critical period for language acquisition ends around age 7; delay affects language mastery.

Brain Areas Involved in Language

• Broca’s Area: Frontal lobe; controls language expression; damage impairs speech production.

• Wernicke’s Area: Left temporal lobe; involved in comprehension; damage obstructs understanding.

• Aphasia: Language impairment due to brain damage.

Relationship Between Thinking and Language

• Linguistic Determinism: Hypothesis that language shapes thought (Whorf).

• Linguistic Relativism: Language influences but does not determine thought.

• Importance of mental imagery in performance enhancement; connected reasoning and speech.