Ch.2 Theory of Language Acquisition

language is learned or nurtured

Child must be ready to acquire language, right mental capacity, be able to take in and interpret info, and influence is on environment

Environment plays some role, child must have exposure to languages

Human brain has a dynamic ability to change constantly as individuals learn

Language is innate or biologically based, only humans are capable of acquiring and using language as we know it, language is universal

Language Acquisition Device- Learning rules of native language

knowldege common to all languages and widely debated

discovering and applying rules of ones native language

Predictability

Devised by Chomsky to account for the production of unlimited grammatically acceptable sentences

Describes the underlying relationships of words and phrases referred to as DEEP

Rules that describe the rearrangement of deep structures as they are moved to the next level of structure, or the SURFACE referred to as the rules

Focuses on observable behaviors and language patterns in children to explain language development

Something humans do not something they have

imitation, reinforcement and successive approximations toward adult language behaviors

Is most critical factor in language acquisition

Most closely associated with the behaviorist interpretation of speech and language development. He viewed nearly all behavior as leaned according to operant conditioning

Speech is learned behavior, any behavior whose frequency can be affected by the responses that follow it

If behavior increases as a consequence of the response that follows

If frequency decreases

Behaviors occur in sequences including speech behaviors/ stringing words together occurs as a result of chaining

Echolic, Tact, Mand, Intraverbal, Autoclitic

Imitate model when objects or ideas are present

Verbal behavior that associates the name with an object, action or event

Verbal behavior used to request or demand

Social talk freely associated in situational contexts

Linking words into sentences based on observations

When an originally neutral stimulus is paired with unconditional stimulus that elicits unconditional response

Current view of learning, combined approach of biology and environment working together for long growth

Semantic, Cognitive, and Social interactionist Views)

Shifted from structure of language conveyed by grammar to the meaning children convey/ related to development of thought (cognition) and the ability to use land. in the construction of meaning

Connections between Piagett's stage of cognitive dev. and stages of speech and language/ language emerges as a product of cog.

organization and development/ imitation is important

not separate from but related to cogn. development

Birth-2 years

Explored a middle ground/ both bio and environmental factors, assume language acquisition is a product of child's early interaction with important people in their life/ children interact socially before they produce language/ Develops as a natural consequence

opportunities that we have to provide the help children need to make steady progress in development

passive recipients of language

active participants in language acquisition

Manner in which caregivers talk to children/ add reduncacy to language with more repetitions/ repeat what child said to provide feedback/ maintain turn taking/ vary pitch of voices and use pauses

Fathers are more likely to use less commonly used words in their vocab

Occurs when adult repeats what a child has said but adds additional words or structure-> therapy strategy