Theories of acquisition and CDS

Question 1

imitation and reinforcement

Answer 1

acquiring language by imitating others

approval is encouragement leads to motivation

Question 2

theory for imitation and reinforcement

Answer 2

Skinner 1957
pleasurable consequences leads to repetition of an action
imitation plays a big part in phonological development
e.g. regional accents is a result of it

Question 3

3 criticisms of skinner

Answer 3

all children pass through the same language stages regardless of reinforcement

trying to apply consistent grammar rules even in irregular cases which is not imitation

don’t seem to be limited by heard sentences

Question 4

what is an alternative to imitation and reinforcement

Answer 4

innateness

Question 5

who criticised skinner

Answer 5

Chomsky

Question 6

what is the theory against imitation and reinforcement

Answer 6

Chomsky 1965
‘language acquisition device’ / innateness
born ability to understand rules in language around them

Question 7

3 ponts in support of LAD

Answer 7

(language acquisition devise)

• children learn to talk at an impressive speed
• children from all cultures pass through the same stages
• linguistic universals: grammatical features common to all languages

Question 8

what is a weakness of LAD

Answer 8

undermines role of interaction in language development

Question 9

what is a case study against innateness

Answer 9

Bard and Sachs 1977
Jim had deaf parents
speech development was seriously retarded despite TV and radio
was ready to speak, needed competent human interaction

Question 10

what is cognitive development

Answer 10

of mental abilities and skills

Question 11

what could you suggest cognitive development is doing

Answer 11

overriding influence on development of language

Question 12

who is the main theorist in cognitive development

Answer 12

Piget

Question 13

example of cognitive development to do with objects

Answer 13

object permanence, independant existence
18 months
prior, children believe object is gone if they can’t see it
next step is to learn object names

Question 14

example of cognitive development to do with size

Answer 14

ability to arrange things in size order

children who can use comparative terms

Question 15

what is a weakness of condition theories

Answer 15

many argue this is overstated by theorists

some linguistic development appears to separate to this

Question 16

what is the input theory

Answer 16

a child’s language acquisition depends on input of parents etc

Question 17

what are 4 features of input theory

Answer 17

parents speak slowly and in a more simplified manner to children, makes imitation easier

expand children’s speech/correct them

introduce new words with familiar sentence structure, “what’s this”, draws child’s attention to a new word

introducing conventions of conversation which helps pragmatic development

Question 18

what is a weakness of input theory

Answer 18

hard to know what causes linguistic development

Question 19

what is most likely

Answer 19

that all factors contribute

Question 20

what is the term for the war parents use language for children

Answer 20

child-directed speech
motherese
fatherese
parentese

Question 21

what are the phonology features of CDS (4)

Answer 21

slow, clear pronunciation

higher pitch

more pauses

exaggerated intonation and prosody

Question 22

what are the lexis features of CDS (3)

Answer 22

simpler and restricted vocabulary

diminutive forms

concrete language, referring to child’s immediate environment

Question 23

what are the grammar features of CDS (5)

Answer 23

simpler contractions

questions

frequent imperatives

personal names instead of pronouns

repetition

Question 24

what are the effects of CDS (4)

Answer 24

makes language more accessible for a child, e.g. understanding word meaning with physical object and repetition

retains child’s attention

questions include more auxiliary verbs

baby talk interferes with development

Question 25

what is a weakness of CDS

Answer 25

not essential

Question 26

wha are either contexts of CDS usage

Answer 26

lovers, talking to pets, carers to the elderly