Chapter 9_Language Development_Test 2 Flashcards
Three Major Theoretical Approaches the focus on the basic processes involved in language acquisition
Behavioral (Learning theory)
Nativist (Psycholinguistic, Pre-Formationist)
Interactionist
Basic Premise of the Behavioral/ Learning Theory
The mechanism involved in Language Acquisition is reinforcement, punishment, shaping and other aspects of operant and classical conditioning. Imitation and modeling may also play a role.
Therefore we should observe parents reinforcing correct language use and punishing (or at least ignoring) incorrect usage.
Should also observe that reinforcement and punishment has an effect on language use.
Observations of the Behavioral/Learning Theory
Parents DO NOT spontaneously reinforce or punish correct grammar:
Consider the following sentences:
“Daddy goed work”
“Mommy drinks candy”
The first is conceptually correct but grammatically incorrect while the second is conceptually incorrect but grammatically correct.
Parents tend to ignore the first and correct the second. Parents correct the conceptual/truth value of sentences, not the grammar.
Experiment with Behavioral/Learning Theory: Does reinforcing correct grammar and punishing or ignoring incorrect grammar influence language use?
Two different preschools
Preschool 1: Special new teacher who corrected all grammar for a 3 month period (Experimental Group)
Preschool 2: Special new teacher who did nothing special for a 3 month period. (Control Group)
Pretest: 1 week baseline measure of correct language usage
Intervention: 3 month period
Post-test: 1 week measure of correct language usage.
No Difference in Pre-test between Experimental & Control Groups
Experimental Group significantly improved from Pre-test to Post-test.
Control Group significantly improved from Pre-test to Post-test
No Difference in Post-test between Experimental & Control Groups.
Nativist Theory: Basic Premise
- Biological Pre-Programming / Humans have unique biological propensity to organize language.
- The nature of language acquisition is learning to identify and apply rules (Rule-Learner).
Nativist Theory: Biological Evidence
Biological Evidence:
1. Humans remain the only organism that uses a high level symbolic language without long-term explicit learning
2. Left hemisphere of the brain has several area for specialized processing of language
If damaged in childhood, other areas take over.
If damaged in adulthood, other areas generally will not take over.
3. Critical Period for Language
These data suggest that humans are pre-programmed to learn language.
Universal Language: 6 months
Babbling
consonant / vowel alternating
BABABABA GAGAGAGA GOGOGO
Universal Language: 6-9 Months
Phonetic Expansion
Infant capable of producing all sorts of babbles even one’s not typically heard in their native language.
Universal Language: 9-12 Months
Phonetic Contraction
Those sounds NOT heard in native language drop out
Universal Language: 12 Months
First Words Seem to be truncated babbles BABA DADA MAMA What are typical first words? Typically words for mother and/or father
First Words
Follows principle of maximum contrasts
May be linked to neurological development
Most easily discriminated
Most easily produced
Is there a Universal Sequence in Language Development prior to 9 months?
definitely yes, all infants cry, cue, and babble ect
Is there a Universal Sequence in Language Development after 9 months?
see a shirt occuring, signs of environmental influences appear
first words: maximum contrasts
start with major differences and then work back so that they can eventually tell apart very subtle differences
first words: what came first? mom and dad or kids saying mama and dada
we dont really know, could make a case for either:
The sound the infant made came to designate the word for mother and father.
Or the meaning (mother or father) of the sounds was first and the infant produced them because the person is important to them.
