language Flashcards
what are the three basic components of language?
-phonemes
-morphemes
-gramma
what is a phoneme?
a basic speech sound
what is a morpheme?
smallest component of speech that carries meaning (ex. whole words; prefixes; suffixes)
what is grammar?
combining morphemes into phrases and sentences using rules
what is production of language?
the ability to use language
what is comprehension of language?
the ability to understand language
which develops first, comprehension or production?
comprehension develops before production
what is babbling and when does it occur?
-occurs at 4-6 months
-experimentation w/sounds of language
-production of phonemes
-no gramma rules
-repetition
- babies who use ASL still babble
do animals babble?
yes, evidence in birds, monkeys, bats
when do babies say their first words?
10-12 months
when do babies reach a vocab of 30-50 words?
18 months
when do babies begin the use of basic grammar?
18-24 months
when is the sensitive period for language learning?
7 months in utero-6 years
-important and critical to get language exposure (makes learning easier)
how do we know that the sensitive period begins before birth?
-hearing by 30 weeks gestational age
what happens if there is a lack of exposure?
feral children (ex. Genie and Oxana; grew up around dogs after being forgotten by parents, she barks and walks on all 4s)
what are the 3 theories of language development?
-behaviorist
-nativist
-interactionist
what is the behaviorist theory?
-this theory says that language learning occurs through operant conditioning
-problems w/theory: grammar rules not actively taught and children generate novel sentences
what is the nativist theory?
-says that language learning is an innate capacity (chomsky)
-evidence of theory: genetic dysphasia (inability to learn grammar) and feral children (some still able to learn to a certain extent)
what is the interactionist theory?
-interaction of innate ability and social interaction
-nativism alone doesn’t explain how language develops
what are the 3 language disorders we discussed in lecture?
-aphasias
-stuttering
-dyslexia
what is aphasia and the types?
aphasia: loss of ability to speak or understand language
-broca’s aphasia is expressive and causes production problems
-wernicke’s aphasia is receptive and causes comprehension problems
-anomic aphasia is problems finding words, especially words of actions
-results from damage to left hemisphere
what is stuttering?
stuttering: disruptions in flow of speech
-repetition
-prolongation of sounds
-blocks
-can vary by context/by person
what is dyslexia?
dyslexia: difficulty w/reading
-classifed as a learning disorder
-not associated w/intelligence level
-genetic predispositon
what are some problems people w/dyslexia may have?
-writing and spelling words
-reading quickly
-pronouncing words when reading aloud
-understanding what one reads
-difficulty distingusing between similar-sounding phonemes
what is knowledge
the entire body of information acquired through study, investigation, observation, and experience
