Chapter 1 - Introduction

Question 1

Why study lang acq?

Answer 1

window to the human mind; better understanding of human learning, behaviour, and cognition; better understanding of adult linguistic systems; better understanding of atypical lang acq and second lang acq

Question 2

What is grammar?

Answer 2

system of principles, rules, and constraints that governs 1. the production, perception, and patterning of speech sounds 2. the formation and interpretation of words and sentences

Question 3

How do children learn grammatical systems?

Answer 3

on the basis of the input that they are exposed to; potentially guided by some innate biases about what a possible language is

Question 4

In terms on phonology, what do children need to acquire?

Answer 4

constraints on the distribution of sounds
english examples:
-[ŋ] can occur word finally but not word initially
-certain consonants are not possible syllable-initially or finally but are permitted across syllables (ex. [mb])
- [i]-[ɪ] and [e]-[ɛ] contrast but the lax vowels to not occur word-finally

Question 5

In terms of morpho-phonology, what do children need to acquire?

Answer 5

plural markers (suffix in English); English plural has three shapes (allomorphes) [s] [z] [əz]

Question 6

This happens in children’s early lexicon…

Answer 6

overextending (misuse words ex. everything with fur is a dog/ everything with wheels is a car)

Question 7

Generalization is when children…

Answer 7

overapply a rule to the irregular versions (ex. plurality, foots/sheeps/tooths)

Question 8

In terms of syntax, what do children need to acquire?

Answer 8

word order constraints (SVO, Det Adj N for English); sentence structure (otis often eats apples vs. otis eats often apples)

Question 9

In terms of syntax-semantics, what do children need to acquire?

Answer 9

constraints on the distribution and interpretation of pronouns (*herself left, mary washed herself)
-children “know” when to use reflexive structures but are not aware of syntactic structures

Question 10

How is language acquisition developed?

Answer 10

develops gradually based on increased input and understanding; children will go through the stages in roughly the same order but not necessarily at the same rate or age

Question 11

Child language is ____ and ____.

Answer 11

principled, rule-based