Task 6 Flashcards
What is generativity?
Idea that through the use of finite set of words and morphemes in humans vocabulary , we can put together an infinite number of sentences and express an infinite number of ideas.
What is a phoneme?
– Elementary units of meaningful sound used to produce languages. A change in phoneme changes the meaning of a word.
What are morphemes?
Smallest units of meaning in a language, composed of one or more phonemes.
What is syntax?
– Rules in language that specify how words from different categories can be combined.
Different types of knowledges and developments to learn a language
Phonological development – First step in language learning, characterized by the acquisition of knowledge about the sound system of a language.
Semantic development – Second component of language acquisition, characterized by learning about expressing meaning.
Syntactic development – Third component in language learning, characterized by learning rules for combining words.
Pragmatic development – Acquisition of knowledge about how language is used.
Metalinguistic knowledge – Understanding of properties and function of language – that is, understanding of language as language.
Theoretical issues in language development
Both nature and nurture play a role in the process of language development. Two key prerequisites for it are (1) a human brain and, nature, and (2) experience with human language, nurture.
Behaviorist approach to the development of language
skinner
Believes that development is a function of learning through reinforcement and punishment of overt behavior.
Skinner – Parents teach children to speak by means of same kinds of reinforcement techniques that are used to train animals.
Nativist approach to language development
chomsky and universal grammar
Suggests that language is an innate faculty, so we are born with a universal grammar in our brain.
Chomsky – Countered Skinner by pointing that we can understand and produce sentences that we have never heard before (= generativity).
Universal grammar – Proposed set of highly abstract, unconscious rules that are common to all language.