Recepetive and Expressive language Flashcards
What is receptive language?
The ability to comprehend or understand what is being said.
What is expressive language?
The ability to use vocabulary and form sentences to express meaning.
Did babies understand receptive or expressive language first and why can a delay in one be bad?
Babies understands receptive language before being able to talk (expressive language).
Both components are important and a delay in either one can effect social, emotional and cognitive development
What are the five theorists that came up with key concepts in relation to children’s language development?
Chomsky
Piaget
Bruner
Vygotsky
Skinner
What were the key concepts of Chomsky’s theory?
- Language is an innate skill (it is an inborn structure in the brain)
- Children are born with the ability to detect grammar and to make sense of the sounds of a language
- He used the term Language Acquisition Device (LAD) to explain this ability
What were the strengths and weaknesses of Chomskys theory?
Strengths - Explains the way that children develop language
Limitations - Does not focus on the role of the adult which is recognised as essential
What was Piagets theory?
- Children’s thinking develops overtime and language was a tool to support thought
- He used the term ‘schema’ to explain patterns or conclusions as a result of the thinking process
- His complex theory of cognitive development has 4 stages.
Sensorimotor - Language use is egocentric crying is to meet babies’ own needs
Pre - operational - Children continue to use egocentric language. They may talk as they play. One feature of this stage is animism. Their use of language reflects this e.g. giving a cuddle toy a voice.
In this period children start to use language symbolically and talk about things that are not present.
Concrete operations and formal operations - Children’s language changes in line with their ability to think logically. In this period, they use ‘socialised’ language reflecting their ability to decentre - recognising that others may have different perspectives .
What are the strengths and weaknesses of Piagets theory?
Strengths
Explains why young children talk to themselves (egocentric speech)
Weaknesses
He underestimated young children’s ability to think logically
What was Bruner’s theory?
Adults instinctively know how to support children’s language e.g. by simplifying and scaffolding.
He used the term Language Acquisition Support System (LASS) to describe this
What are the strengths of Bruner’s theory?
Strengths
Explains the way adults universally talk differently to babies than adults
What was Vygotskys theory?
Viewed language as central to learning
Children learn to use language to think
Language and logical thinking is developed through interactions
What was Vygotskys theory?
Viewed language as central to learning
Children learn to use language to think
Language and logical thinking is developed through interactions
What was the strengths of Vygotskys theory?
Explains why children who have quality interactions with adults may develop better thinking skills (metacognition)
What was Skinners theory?
Behaviourist model of language
Children develop language through external stimuli rather than is being an innate process
E.g. Adult smiles when baby babbles. The baby babbles more as he has been positively reinforced by the smile of the adult
What were the limitations of Skinners theory?
Does not explain the way in which language develops and how grammar develops in a similar way regardless of where children are
