Major Language Development Theories Flashcards
What do infants bring to the task of language learning?
Nature versus nurture/nativist versus empiricist
Some aspects are innate, others come through experience
What drives language acquisition?
Mechanisms
Domain specific/domain general
Modularity/nonmodularity
What types of input support language learning?
Increasing knowledge of social conventions, and desire to interact with others. Or when children hear language, use as evidence of structure.
Extreme nurture view
All through experience- blank slate theory
Extreme nature view (nativist)
Innate, genetic. Born with language system in place.
Skinner’s Behaviorist Theory
Nurture- Radical behaviorism- operant conditioning: bx is determined by consequences. All learning results from this. Reinforced bx is strengthened, punished bx is weakened- language is no different than any other bx. Children learn because adults reinforce their vocalizations.
Vygotsky’s Socialist-Interactionist Theory
Nurture. Language emerges through social interactions. Every function in cultural development occurs 2x- 1st between people, and then in child. Speech is used to regulate social requests. Language is a part of general cognition until age 2 when independent. ZPD occurs in this zone.
Zone of Proximal Development
Distance between ability to solve on own versus with an adult
Piaget’s Cognitive Theory
Nurture. Observed own children’s developmental achievements. Must achieve one stage before moving on to the next- reflects other areas of growth. Domain general activity. Kids view the world only in their perspective- must move past this for conversation.
Genetic Epistemology
Study of development of knowledge. Seen in cognitive theory.
Intentionality Model
Nurture. Abilities develop one after another. Child learns when they must express language- have to be intentional to acquire.
Competition Model
Nurture. Children acquire language frequently earlier, less frequently later on. Input competes until the most heard language strengthens. Overgeneralization occurs when child overgeneralizes words of language. ex: “I goed” Will correct on own.
Usage Based Theory
Children learn because they have a reason to talk. Requests and protests to obtain something- recognize intentions of others and learn to manipulate.
What three questions must language development theories answer?
What do infants bring to the task of language learning
What drives language acquisition
What types of input support language learning
Fedor’s Modularity Theory
Language is innate capacity that emphasizes organization of cognitive infrastructure of brain as highly specified modules, including those for language processing. Processors do not share info, operate independently. Areas develop independently.
Universal Grammar
Noah Chomsky’s system of grammatical rules and constraints that are consistent in all world languages. Language depends on species specific module dedicated to language- the language acquisition device. Children are born with universal grammar and linguistic competence, input develops language. Difficulties are not lack of competence but performance difficulty.
Syntactic bootstrapping
Learn the meaning of an unfamiliar verb by examining extralinguistic cues. Observe own and others actions- “Would you like to color?” while handing paper and crayons
Semantic bootstrapping
Utilizing innate knowledge to know what syntactic category word belongs to. Ex: adj+word- yellow bus
Prosodic bootstrapping
Infants use sensitivity to acoustic processes of speech, uses to make inferences. Isolate important units from running speech.
Connectionist theories
How language organized across the brain and how connections are formed between words in lexicon. Could easily be a nurture theory.
Nodes
Simple processing units in brain. Similar to neurons: receive input from external sources through connections.
Connections
Vary in strength depending on connection weight. Weaken with reduced input and strengthening reorganizes network.
Prevention
Goal to inhibit difficulties from emerging. Phonological awareness is the primary target: ex: tv shows & headstart
Intervention & Remediation
Strategies to help individuals with difficulties in aspects of language development. ex: speech therapy- must be significant delay
Enrichment
Provides learning environment that builds on existing and promotes new language. Not individual needs. Environment based.
Evidence Based Practice EBP
Integrating theoretical knowledge with scientific inquiry to inform decision making. ASHA says to always use research, client experience and values, and therapists experience.
