Language Development (W6, L3)

Question 1

What is Quine’s problem?

Answer 1

Figuring out what words mean using people’s tones and body language.

This problem highlights the challenges of understanding language in context.

Question 2

How do children learn the meanings of new words?

Answer 2

By forming an association between a word and an object with many exposures.

This method can be limited by the absence of physical objects for certain words.

Question 3

What is a weakness of the general learning mechanism for vocabulary?

Answer 3

Vocabulary would be limited and struggles with words that don’t have a physical object.

This limitation can hinder language development.

Question 4

How can vocabulary learning be improved in children?

Answer 4

Using infant-directed talk and joint attention.

These strategies help engage children more effectively in language learning.

Question 5

What is the whole object bias?

Answer 5

When children assume a new word refers to an entire object rather than a part or property.

This bias affects how children categorize new vocabulary.

Question 6

What is mutual exclusivity in language learning?

Answer 6

Assuming that if an object has a name, there is only one name for it, so a new name refers to a different object.

For example, knowing the word ‘owl’ leads to the assumption that ‘duck’ refers to something else.

Question 7

What is the shape bias?

Answer 7

Children use shapes to categorize objects.

This bias helps children in organizing their vocabulary around physical characteristics.

Question 8

How do children use linguistic context to interpret word meanings?

Answer 8

By using the grammatical form of a word.

For example, ‘sib’ refers to an item, while ‘sibling’ refers to the action.

Question 9

What role do social cues play in children’s language learning?

Answer 9

Children pay attention to social cues provided by speakers, especially in ambiguous situations.

Eye gaze is an important cue that children start using by 24 months.

Question 10

At what age do children start using eye gaze over other cues?

Answer 10

By 24 months.

This indicates a significant development in their ability to interpret social cues.

Question 11

What is the significance of intentions in language learning for infants aged 18-24 months?

Answer 11

Infants are more likely to replicate an action based on the context of the speaker’s intention.

For example, they are more likely to imitate an action when the experimenter says ‘there’ after completing it.