Module 9 Flashcards
Language Acquisition
The process of learning a language typically starting in early childhood
Innateness Hypothesis
The theory that humans are biologically programmed to learn language
Universal Grammar
The idea that all languages share a common underlying structure, innate to humans
Sign Language
A visual language used by Deaf communities, with its own grammar and vocabulary
Theories of Acquisition
Different explanations for how children learn language, including imitation and innate structures
Imitation
The theory that children learn languagea by copying what they hear
Reinforcement
The theory that language learning is shaped by feedback from caregivers
Active Construction of a Grammar
The theory that children create their own grammar rules from language input
Connectionist Theories
Theories that suggest language learning is based on forming connections through patterns in language input
Stages of Development
The predictable milestones in language learning, from babbling to complex sentences
Language Evolution
The process by which languages change and develop over time
Language Purism
The belief in maintaining a “pure” form of language, avoiding foreign influence or new forms
Perscriptivism
The approach to languagae that emphasizes rules and standards for “correct” usage
Descriptivism
The approach to language that emphasizes rules and sstandards for “correct” usage
Standard Language
A variety of language that is considered the norm or most “correct” for formal and official contexts
