Task 6

Question 1

What is generativity?

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

What is a phoneme?

Answer 2

– Elementary units of meaningful sound used to produce languages. A change in phoneme changes the meaning of a word.

Question 3

What are morphemes?

Answer 3

Smallest units of meaning in a language, composed of one or more phonemes.

Question 4

What is syntax?

Answer 4

– Rules in language that specify how words from different categories can be combined.

Question 5

Different types of knowledges and developments to learn a language

Answer 5

 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.

Question 6

Theoretical issues in language development

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

Behaviorist approach to the development of language

skinner

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

Nativist approach to language development

chomsky and universal grammar

Answer 8

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.