Language Learning Flashcards
This process is most prominent when children are learning their first language(s).
Subconscious process
In order to acquire a language, children need a source of this, which is usually the mother, father, or caregiver.
Source of natural communication
How do multilingual children acquire langauge?
They acquire languages naturally by repeating, experimenting with sounds (phonemes), and using them purposefully in communication.
It is the result of direct instruction in the rules of language. It is not age-appropriate for very young children as requires conscious knowledge of the language, including basic grammar.
Language learning
Where do language learning typically begins?
It typically begins in a formal education setting, where reading and writing are taught.
When and how language is learned by children?
- Language is typically learned by children at an early age without formal instruction, primarily through use and exposure.
- Genetic factors also play a role in language acquisition as human has the innate ability to speak.
- Environment, where children learn the specific variety of languages (dialect) that the people around them speak.
At what age do children say their first words?
Between 12 and 18 months
When do children begin to use complex sentences?
By the age of 4 to 4 and a half years old
As with other aspects of development, language acquisition is not …, as one child may say her first words at 10 months, another at 20 months.
Not predictable
Why are there children who are not able to produce sound?
Their vocal tracts may not be fully developed yet to produced certain sounds.
When do children begin using speech sound?
In the babbling stage
Cross-linguistic observations, especially among multilingual children, highlight that using the development in one language as a benchmark for all languages is…
shortsighted
How do children acquire words?
Through a process of generalization and adaptation.
It is about finding similarities and using them to understand new things.
Generalization
Oral language consists of 3 components, which are?
- Phonological
- Semantic
- Syntactic
It is changing the way you say something to fit the situation better for others to understand you.
Adaptation
This component involves rules for combining sounds in a language, which we use unconsciously in speaking and understanding.
Phonological component
This component is made up of morphemes, the smallest meaning-carrying units that combine to form words and sentences.
Semantic component
This component consists of rules that enable the combination of morphemes into sentences, and it becomes more complex as a child’s language development progresses.
Syntactic component
Some language experts also consider a fourth component, which deals with the rules of language use and how to speak appropriately in various social contexts.
Pragmatics
Learning this is crucial as it impacts how people are perceived and judged based on both what they say and when they say it.
Pragmatic rules
When it comes to language development, why should parents not focus on problems of children not being able to pronounce words as adults do?
Because most children naturally outgrow them; it is a tiny segment of the child’s total repertoire of language.
But if a child seems to have difficulty hearing or understanding others, or if their communicative abilities noticeably differ from their peers, seeking advice from specialists in children’s speech, language, and hearing may be necessary.
To support natural language development, teachers, parents, and caregivers can follow these guidelines:
- Respect and value every child’s language or dialect as a valid form of communication
- Treat children as conversationalists from an early age
- Encourage interaction among children, especially in mixed-age groups, as peer learning is vital for language development
- Recognize that parents, caregivers, teachers, and guardians play crucial roles in language development as adults are the main sources of conversation
- Continue to promote interaction as children begin to understand written language
