Child Language Acquisition

Question 1

Piaget Stages

Answer 1

Holophrastic: One word. Have multiple definitions.
Two-word: Over extension-Uses the word to describe multiple things. A Dog would be every 4 legged animal. Under extension-Uses the word too narrowly. A Dog relates to the child’s pet not any other dog.
Telegraphic- Uses few words, word limit. Mummy go work. instead of Is Mummy going to work?
Post Telegraphic- Being able to comprehend and construct complex sentence structures with correct grammar.

Question 2

Behaviourism Vs Innateness

Answer 2

Behaviourism: Skinner= skin, external
Behaviour is learnt!
Positive reinforcement- Praise and save
Negative reinforcement- Forget and neglect
Children imitate the language of their parents
CHALLENGE: Genie missed out on the critical period (7) and was never able to learn fluent English from her carers.

Innateness: Chomsky= chomp, internal
Born with the ability to learn language
LAD (Language Acquisition Devices)- hearing speech triggers the child to learn different functions of language and grammar
CHALLENGE: Being exposed to language isn’t enough, need to develop language through interactions within their environment, people.

Question 3

Vygotsky-Institutional Scaffolding

Answer 3

Help student learn by pairing them with an educator.
The educator must have more experience and know how to address the level the child is at.
Techniques:
-Using visual aids (diagrams)
-Providing examples
-Working one on one
-Providing feedback

Question 4

Vygotsky- More Knowledgeable Other

Answer 4

Guidance by the MKO to help the child learn
Examples:
Parent/carer
Teacher/mentor
Peers
Electronic tutor
Theory can also be applied to recreational learning such as using technology and playing a board game.

Question 5

Halliday- Functions of Language

Answer 5

SFL: Systematic Functional Linguistics
Instrumental- used when desires need to be fulfilled (I want, I need)
Regulatory- Used to command, persuade or request

Question 6

CDS- Child Directed Speech

Answer 6

Used to encourage development.
Recasting: phrasing sentences in different ways to teach variation. Sentence into question
Echoing: repeating what the child said.
Labelling: providing name of objects and things
Expansion: restating what child said more sophisticated.