1. Child Development Laura E. Berk 7th edition
Chapter 9
Language Development
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2. Components of Language
Phonology
Rules about structure and sequence of speech sounds
Semantics
Vocabulary - words and word combinations for concepts
Grammar
Syntax - rules for sentences
Morphology - grammatical markers
Pragmatics
Appropriate and effective communication
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3. Three Theories of Language Development
Behaviorist
Learned through operant conditioning (reinforcement) and imitation
Nativist
Language Acquisition Device (LAD) biologically prepares infants to learn rules of language through universal grammar
Interactionist
Inner capacities and environment work together; Social context is important
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4. Support for Biological Language Preparedness
Animal language
Language seems to be unique to humans
Brain structures
Regions predisposed to
language processing
Sensitive period
During brain lateralization
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5. Deaf Children’s Language
Deaf children develop language even when they have:
Minimal input
Later than
hearing children,
but do develop
Homesign
Inconsistent input
Extract rules
Figure Simon’s performance on a challenging ASL grammatical task, compared with the performance of his parents and native-signing children and adults.
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6. Language Areas of the Brain
Figure Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas, in the left hemisphere of the cerebral cortex.
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7. Interactionist Theories of Language Development
Information-Processing Theories
Statistical learning theory
Brain studies
Social Interactionist Theories
Native desire for
understanding
combines with rich
language environment
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8. Getting Ready to Talk: Receptivity to Language
Newborns sensitive to speech
Especially mother’s
Categorical speech perception
Ability to distinguish phonemes
Statistical analysis,
rule-learning
Child-directed
speech
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9. First Speech Sounds Cooing - 2 months Babbling - 4 months Vowel sounds
Consonants & vowels
Universal timing
Range expands
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10. Becoming a Communicator
Joint attention
Give-and-take
Preverbal gestures
Protodeclarative
Protoimperative
Word-gesture combinations
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11. Parental Responsiveness and Language Learning
Figure Relationship of maternal responsiveness at 13 months to attainment of language milestones at 21 months.
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12. Phonological Development
Early Phase
First words - can only pronounce few sounds
Related to semantic development
Understand more than can say
Phonological Strategies
Later development
Refine syllable stress patterns - related to meaning
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13. One-Year-Olds Know Pronunciations
Figure One-year-olds know the correct pronunciation of familiar words.
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14. Phonological Progress
Minimal Words
Add ending consonant
Adjust vowel length
Add unstressed syllables
Produce full word, correct stress pattern
May still need to refine sounds
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15. Early Semantic Development
Comprehension before production
5 month lag
First words linked to
cognition, emotion
Vocabulary spurt
18-24 months
Fast-mapping
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16. Individual Differences in Language Development
Gender
Temperament
Language environment
Language Style
Referential
Expressive
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17. Types of Early Words More objects than actions Object and Action
Objects are easier concepts, parents rarely name verbs
Influenced by culture & language
State
Modifiers or labels for attributes - size, color, possession
Learn general distinctions before specific
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18. Preschoolers’ Semantic Development
Underextensions
Overextensions
Word coinages
Metaphors
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19. Elementary School-Age Semantic Development
Big vocabulary increase
Fast-mapping continues
Analyze word structure
Use words precisely, understand multiple meanings - metaphors, puns
Figure Estimated vocabulary from grades 1 to 5.
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20. Adolescent Semantic Development
Abstract terms
Sarcasm, irony
Figurative language
Proverbs
Figure Estimated vocabulary from grades 1 to 5
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21. Factors Contributing to Semantic Development
Adult feedback
Cognitive processing
Working memory - phonological store
Strategies
Lexical contrast
Mutual exclusivity bias
Syntactic bootstrapping
Social information
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22. Early Grammatical Development
Telegraphic speech
2-word combinations
Simple sentences
3 words
Follow adult rules piecemeal, gradually refine and generalize
Figure Number of word combinations with novel nouns and verbs produced by 18- to 23-month-olds
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23. Development of Grammatical Morphemes
Structural complexity affects order acquired
Overregulation
Applying rules without appropriate exceptions
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24. Complex Grammatical Forms
Negatives
Nonexistence
Rejection
Denial
Questions
Rising intonations
Subject-verb inversion
Correct yes-no questions precede wh- questions
Other Complex Constructions
Connectives
Embedded sentences
Tag questions
Indirect object-direct object
Passive sentences
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25. Views on Grammar Development
Product of cognitive development
Semantic bootstrapping
Direct observation of language structure
Inborn capacities
Categories for bootstrapping
Language-making capacity
Environmental support
Adults correct indirectly with reformulations
Asking for clarification
Recasts
Expansions
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26. Pragmatic Development
2-year-olds can have effective conversations
Early childhood - turnabout
Middle childhood
Shading
Illocutionary knowledge
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27. Factors that Enhance Pragmatic Development
Adult interactions
Conversations
Dialogues about storybooks, shared reading
Siblings
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28. Testing Referential Communication Skills
Figure Scene used to test for referential communication skills.
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29. Development of Narrative Skills
Leapfrog narratives - 4 years
Few evaluations
Chronological narratives - 4-1/2 to 5 years
Classical narratives - 6 years
Narrative styles learned
from adults
Topic-associating style
Haiku style
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30. Speech Registers Social routines Polite language
Children sensitive to speech registers early years
Important to social acceptance
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31. Metalinguistic Awareness
Ability to think about language as a system
4- and 5-year-olds have early understanding
Flowers in middle childhood
Phonological awareness
associated with
reading success
Advanced in
bilingual children
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32. Learning Two Languages
Learn both at the same time
No problems with language development
Good at both by preschool
One, then the other
Takes 3 to 5 years to be as good as same-age native speakers of second language
Both offer cognitive advantages of bilingualism
Attention, reasoning, concepts, flexibility
General language skills
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33. Types of Bilingual Education
Language immersion
Strong in Canada
English-only
Favored in U.S.
Risk of semilingualism
Bilingual education
Support and instruction in native language while learning English
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