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Question 1

What are the major theories of language acquisition?

Answer 1

Learning theory, nativist theory, social interactionist theory

These theories outline different perspectives on how individuals acquire language.

Question 2

According to learning theory, how does language development occur?

Answer 2

Language development is the result of imitation and reinforcement

This theory suggests that language is learned through environmental interactions.

Question 3

What does nativist theory propose about language acquisition?

Answer 3

Humans are biologically programmed to acquire language

This theory posits that language ability is innate.

Question 4

What is Chomsky’s concept of the language acquisition device (LAD)?

Answer 4

An inborn linguistic processor that enables understanding and speaking language

Chomsky’s theory emphasizes the biological basis of language acquisition.

Question 5

What evidence supports Chomsky’s nativist theory?

Answer 5

• All languages have the same basic underlying grammatical structure
• Children pass through the same stages of language acquisition at similar ages

These observations suggest a universal grammar.

Question 6

What does social interactionist theory emphasize in language acquisition?

Answer 6

A combination of biological and social factors

This perspective argues that social interaction is crucial for language development.

Question 7

What is child-directed speech?

Answer 7

Speech that caregivers use when talking to young children, characterized by specific features

Also known as parentese, it aids language development.

Question 8

List the five major components of language.

Answer 8

• Phonology
• Morphology
• Syntax
• Semantics
• Pragmatics

These components are essential for understanding how language functions.

Question 9

What is phonology?

Answer 9

The rules for using phonemes, the smallest units of sound in a language

Each language has a limited number of phonemes.

Question 10

Define morphology in the context of language.

Answer 10

The rules governing the use of morphemes, the smallest units of language that have meaning

Morphemes can be free or bound.

Question 11

Differentiate between free morphemes and bound morphemes.

Answer 11

• Free morphemes: Stand alone as words (e.g., test, certain)
• Bound morphemes: Must be combined with other morphemes (e.g., un in uncertain)

An example of a complex morpheme is ‘unspeakable’.

Question 12

What is syntax?

Answer 12

Rules that determine how words can be combined into sentences

Syntax varies across languages.

Question 13

Explain semantics.

Answer 13

The meaning of words, phrases, and sentences, focusing on their literal meaning

Semantics deals with understanding actual meanings.

Question 14

What does pragmatics refer to in language?

Answer 14

The use and meaning of verbal and nonverbal language in different social contexts

Pragmatic skills include turn-taking, appropriate language use, and body language understanding.

Question 15

What are the three types of cries identified in infants?

Answer 15

• Low-pitched rhythmic cry: Signals hunger or discomfort
• Shrill, less regular cry: Signals anger or frustration
• Loud high-pitched cry: Signals pain

Each type of cry serves a different communicative purpose.

Question 16

True or False: Research has consistently shown the best way to respond to an infant’s crying.

Answer 16

False

Studies have produced inconsistent results regarding effective responses.

Question 17

What did Bell and Ainsworth (1972) find about responding to crying infants?

Answer 17

Quick and consistent responses lead to less crying in subsequent months

Their findings suggest a benefit to responsive parenting.

Question 18

What contrasting finding did van IJzendoorn and Hubbard (2000) report?

Answer 18

Ignoring crying infants led to less frequent crying in the following weeks

Their study challenges the conclusions of Bell and Ainsworth.

Question 19

What do some experts suggest regarding parental responses to infant crying?

Answer 19

Optimal response depends on the severity of the infant’s cries

This approach may help infants learn to regulate their distress.

Question 20

What is cooing and when does it begin?

Answer 20

Cooing begins at six to eight weeks of age and involves repeating vowel-like sounds (e.g., “ooo” and “aaaeeeooo”).

Question 21

At what age does babbling begin and what does it entail?

Answer 21

Babbling begins at three to six months of age with single consonant-vowel combinations such as “ba” and “goo.”

Question 22

What is canonical babbling?

Answer 22

Canonical babbling is the repetition of consonant-vowel combinations such as “mamamama” and “babababa.”

Question 23

Define variegated babbling.

Answer 23

Variegated babbling consists of different consonant-vowel combinations in a single utterance, such as “bamagubu.”

Question 24

What happens to a child’s babbling by about 9 months of age?

Answer 24

It narrows to the sounds and intonation patterns of the child’s native language.

Question 25

How do congenitally deaf infants babble compared to hearing infants?

Answer 25

They babble less frequently, consist of a more limited range of sounds, and their vocalizations decrease unless provided with hearing aids or cochlear implants.

Question 26

What is echolalia and when does it begin?

Answer 26

Echolalia begins at about 9 months of age and involves repeating speech sounds and words uttered by another person without understanding their meaning.

Question 27

At what age do children typically say their first words?

Answer 27

Children usually say their first words to express meaning between 10 to 15 months of age.

Question 28

What is the vocabulary spurt and when does it occur?

Answer 28

Beginning at about 18 months of age, children exhibit a rapid increase in vocabulary known as the vocabulary spurt.

Question 29

Define holophrastic speech.

Answer 29

Holophrastic speech involves using a single word to express an entire thought, with meaning depending on context and tone.

Question 30

What is telegraphic speech and when do children begin to use it?

Answer 30

Telegraphic speech consists of two content words and omits function words, beginning between 18 and 24 months of age.

Question 31

What is the critical period for language acquisition?

Answer 31

The critical period refers to a strong negative relationship between age of exposure to language and language proficiency.

Question 32

What evidence suggests different critical periods for language aspects?

Answer 32

Studies indicate full proficiency with grammar, syntax, and phonetics requires early exposure, while semantics and vocabulary size are less affected.

Question 33

What is the role of language exposure for deaf and hard-of-hearing children?

Answer 33

Exposure to language from birth is essential for language development, supporting cognitive and socioemotional development.

Question 34

What is overextension in language development?

Answer 34

Overextension occurs when a child uses a word too broadly, such as using “doggie” for all furry, four-legged animals.

Question 35

Define underextension.

Answer 35

Underextension occurs when a child uses a word too narrowly, like using “doggie” to refer only to the family pet.

Question 36

What is overregularization in language errors?

Answer 36

Overregularization occurs when a child misapplies rules for plurals and past tense, such as saying “foots” instead of “feet.”

Question 37

What does paralanguage refer to?

Answer 37

Paralanguage refers to how something is said, including prosody, tone, intonation, and nonlinguistic sounds.

Question 38

What is language brokering?

Answer 38

Language brokering is the act of translating and interpreting within immigrant families by children and adolescents.

Question 39

List the positive effects of language brokering.

Answer 39

• Development of strong interpersonal skills
• High levels of self-confidence
• Academic self-efficacy

Question 40

What is code-switching?

Answer 40

Code-switching refers to bi- and multilingual speakers’ use of more than one language or language variety within a single interaction.

Question 41

True or False: Code-switching is always a conscious act.

Answer 41

False.