Language Acquisition

Question 1

Language Acquisition

Answer 1

All normal humans learn any language they are exposed to at the same rate and follow the same stages

Question 2

Innateness Hypothesis

Answer 2

We have the innate ability to acquire human language- genetically embedded into our DNA No t derived from cognitive function. Explains Speed/ease/uniformity of acquisition process universally across all languages

Question 3

Language Acquisition Device

Answer 3

Chomsky LAD a “device” in our brains that allows us to innately learn language when triggered.

Question 4

Universal Grammar

Answer 4

Structural Characteristics shared by all languages

Question 5

Imitation Theory of Acquisition

Answer 5

Children imitate what they hear because language is not transmitted genetically.

Question 6

Reinforcement Theory of Acquisition

Answer 6

Children learn language through positive and negative reinforcement.

Question 7

Active Construction of Grammar

Answer 7

The innate ability for children to invent grammar rules themselves.

Question 8

Connection Theories

Answer 8

The theory that exposure to language strengthens neural connections which allows for the exploitation of statistical information.

Question 9

Critical Period Hypothesis

Answer 9

Basic Idea there is a critical period in development during which language can be acquired like a native speaker. About age 6

Question 10

Prelinguistic

Answer 10

0 babies ability to make noise such as crying and cooing due to a reaction to stimuli or. biological needs not speech.

Question 11

Babbling

Answer 11

6 months not linked to biological needs, pitch and intonation resembles those that speak around them

Question 12

One-word stage

Answer 12

Around age 1 speaks one-word sentences 1 syllable word whole words learned NOT phonemes

Question 13

holophrastic

Answer 13

one word sentences spoken by children about 1 years of age

Question 14

Two-word stage

Answer 14

1.5 to 2 years old knows about 50 or so words and uses 2 word sentences.

Question 15

telegraphic

Answer 15

two word sentences spoken around the age of 2

Question 16

Head-first language

Answer 16

Head of the phrase always comes before its compliments.

Question 17

Syntactic Structures

Answer 17

Noam Chomsky the idea that each sentence in a language has 2 levels of representation Surface and deep structure

Question 18

Surface structure

Answer 18

physical properties of a language

Question 19

deep structure

Answer 19

core semantic relations of a sentence mapped on to the surface structure follows the phonological form of a sentence closely

Question 20

economy of derivation

Answer 20

principle that states that movements/ transformations only occur in order to match interpretable features with uninterpretable features

Question 21

Economy of representation

Answer 21

principle that states grammatical structures must exist for a purpose i.e., the structure of a sentence should be no larger or more complex than required to satisfy constraints on grammaticality

Question 22

Transformation

Answer 22

a rule that takes an input or deep structure and changes it by some means of a restricted way to a surface structure

Question 23

cognitive theory

Answer 23

language acquisition must be child’s intellectual development. A linguist structure will emerge only if thee is an already established cognitive foundation or ability to make judgements

Question 24

input theory

Answer 24

maternal input parents do not talk to their children as they do to adults. They adapt language to give children the maximum opportunity to interact and learn simplified utterances, grammar and meaning.