Language Acquisition Flashcards
phonology
sound patterns of a language
morphology
rules of word-formation
Innateness Hypothesis
argues that our ability to acquire language is innate. not simply derived from other human cognitive abilities.
Universal Grammar
refers to the set of structural characteristics shared by all languages.
Imitation
theories of acquisition, describes that children imitate what they hear
reinforcement
theories of acquisition, describes that children learn through positive and negative reinforcement.
active construction of a grammar
Children invent grammar rules themselves. ability to develop rules innate.
Connectionist Theories
claims that exposure to language develops and strengthens neural connections.
Prelinguistics
Stage of language development, babies make noises but not yet babbling. Sensitive to native and non-native sounds distinctions.
Babbling
starts about 6 months of age, pitch and intonation resemble language spoken around them.
One-word
Part of language development, begins at around age of 1. Usually one syllable words.
holophrastic
speak one-word sentences.
Two-word stage
starts around 1.5-2 years old. vocabulary is +/- 50 words.
telegraphic
sentences consist of two words. e.g. allgone sock, sit chair.
beyond two-word stage
sentences with more than 3 words.
Sign Language support for Innateness theory
acquired without explicit instruction, acquired in similar stages as spoken language.
Problem of Imitation theory of acquistion
children produce things not said by adults. children may invent a new language. they often fail to accurately mimic adult utterances.
Problem of Reinforcement theory of aquisition
fails to explain: children’s own grammar rules, why children seem impervious to correction. Role of reinforcement limited to ability to be understood or not.
Problems of Connectionist Theories
Predicts that any pattern is learnable by humans, but this is demonstrably false.
Critical Period Hypothesis
there is a critical period development during which language can be acquired like a native speaker.
nasals>glides>stops>liquid>fricatives>affricatives
sounds that are produced in one-word manner of articulation
Examples of one-word utterances
don’t=dot, light=wait, bath=bat, chop=top
gesture system
sign language way of communication.
Nicaraguan sign language Facts
Didn’t exist before 1980. Teachers used only limited signs for the alphabet. Deaf children naturally and quickly created their own sign language.
Evidence of Imitation language acquisition.
specific languages are not transferred genetically. words are arbitrary, thus children must hear words to imitate them.
Active construction of a grammar acquisition process
Listen, try to find patterns, hypothesize pattern, test hypothesis, modify rule as necessary.
Problem of active construction of grammar
says nothing about what patterns are learnable
Evidence of connectionist theories
there are clear frequency effects in some aspect of language. there are clearly neural connections. predicts ‘errors’ based on frequency effects.
Higher frequency of Connectionist theories
stronger connections-allows for exploitation of statistical information, ‘rules’ derived from strength of connections.
Attempts to explain of Innateness Hypothesis.
speed of acquisition, ease of acquisition, uniformity of acquisition process, uniformity in adult language, universalities across languages.
language acquisition
all normal human children can learn a language, can learn any language they are exposed to. learn all languages at basically the same rate. follow the same stages of languages acquisition.
5-6 years old
age of children when they have adult-like grammar occurrence.
phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and lexical items.
Children must learn these items for language acquisition.
Arrive before 6> generally pass as native speakers. arrive after puberty> generally do not pass as native speakers
Age of immigration and language ability.
Evidence of critical period hypothesis
‘feral children’ (children isolated from human contact)
‘Genie”
pseudonym for American feral child. Isolated for 13 years. They learn many words rather quickly. Never fully developed syntax or morphology.
Honey bees dance as form of communication. Newly hatched turtles move toward ocean.
Example of innateness hypothesis for animals.
Acquisition process
listen, try to find patterns, hypothesize rule for the pattern, test hypothesis, modify rule as necessary.
Children have a ‘working grammar’
example of acquisition process.
Problem of active construction grammar.
Says nothing about what patterns are learnable.
