Child development - language

Question 1

What is phonology?

Answer 1

Sound system - phonemes - limited set
group characteristic of each language.
Combination rules for meaningful speech.

Question 2

What is semantics and what are morphemes?

Answer 2

Semantics - expressed meaning of words and sentences.

Morphemes - smallest linguistic units that carry meaning.

Question 3

What is syntax?

Answer 3

Form or structure of a language - combination rules for meaningful sentences.

Question 4

What is pragmatics?

Answer 4

Rules about language in social contexts - what to say and how to say it.

Question 5

When is the pre-linguistic period?

Answer 5

0-12 months

Question 6

What are the three forms of vocalisation in the pre-linguistic period?

Answer 6

1. Crying (first 3-4 weeks)
2. Cooing (3-5 weeks onwards)
3. Babbling (3-4 months) - adding consonants, echolalia (sound repetition)
   Also - learn other features: intonation, turn taking, that words have meaning

Question 7

How does language develop between 8-12 months?

Answer 7

1. Associate object with its name

2. Verbal label - not representations

Question 8

What are the features of language development at 18 months?

Answer 8

True symbolic representation.
Word as substitute for an object.
Used for communication.

Question 9

At what age do children use telegraphic speech?

Answer 9

18-24 months

Question 10

What features of language development are present at 2+ years?

Answer 10

Adding verbs.
Compound sentences.
Past tense - eg adding -ed.
Logical errors, ‘mouses gone away’.

Question 11

What features of language development are present at 3-5 years?

Answer 11

Interest in rhymes and songs
Commentaries during play
Pre-sleep monologues
All show the emergence of narrative - from actions to spoken stories, links to reading

Question 12

What is Skinner’s theory of language acquisition?

Answer 12

Language is learned via imitation and progressive reinforcement.

Question 13

What is Chomsky’s theory of language acquisition?

Answer 13

Universal grammar - innate shared linguistic principles

Language acquisition device

Question 14

What is Lenneberg’s critical period hypothesis?

Answer 14

The hypothesis claims that there is an ideal time window to acquire language in a linguistically rich environment, after which further language acquisition becomes much more difficult and effortful.

Question 15

What is expressive aphasia/dysphasia?

Answer 15

Damage to Broca’s area
Speech: halting, hesitant, difficulty finding words
Comprehension: largely unimpaired

Question 16

What is receptive aphasia/dysphasia?

Answer 16

Damage to Wernicke’s area
Speech: fluent, grammatical, no content, nonsense
Comprehension: seriously impaired

Question 17

What features does a proficient user of language have?

Answer 17

Knowledge of: phonology, semantics, syntax and pragmatics.