Chapter 7 Flashcards
language
the systematic, meaningful arrangement of symbols, which provides the basis for communication
prelinguistic communication
communication through sounds, facial expressions, gestures, imitation, and other nonlinguistic means
babbling
making speech like but meaningless sounds
holophrases
one-word utterances that depend on the particular context in which they are used to determine meaning
telegraphic speech
speech in which words not critical to the message are left out
syntax
the combining of words and phrases to form sentences
fast mapping
the process in which new words associated with their meaning after only a brief encounter
grammar
the system of rules that determine how our thoughts can be expressed
pragmatics
the aspect of language relating to communicating effectively and appropriately with others
private speech
spoken language that is not intended for others, commonly used by children during the preschool years
social speech
speech directed toward another person and meant to be understood by that person
metalinguistic awareness
an understanding of one’s own use of language
learning theory approach
the theory that language acquisition follows the basic laws of reinforcement and conditioning
nativist approach
the theory that a genetically determined, innate mechanism directs the development of language
universal grammar
a similar underlying structure shared by all the world’s languages, according to the linguist Noam Chomsky
