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Introduction to Language Introduction to Language AcquisitionAcquisition

University of Massachusetts BostonECHD 440 & 640Lisa Van ThielLisa Van Thiel

Image by eoSos.de

Goals for this session:Goals for this session:

Identify language theorists Name five aspects of language

development Define each of the five aspects of language p g g

knowledge and; Describe the similarities and differences

between receptive and expressive language

Nativist PerspectiveNativist Perspective

Language is an inborn human trait All children have capacity to learn

language Language is a biological adaptation Language is a biological adaptation Children learn the deep and surface

structure of their language . Syntax is focal point of this

perspective

Image by tiarescott

Cognitive Development PerspectiveCognitive Development Perspective

Cognition and language are interconnected

Language maturation for all humans follows a o a u a s o ows a predictable sequence

Behaviorist PerspectiveBehaviorist Perspective

Language is a learned skills Language develop can be nurtured Positive reinforcement prompt language

Interactionist PerspectiveInteractionist Perspective

Language and cognitive development are linked

Children learn language through interactions with peoplete act o s w t peop e

Adults scaffold language learning by modeling language slightly above the level in which children independently use language.

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Brain DevelopmentBrain Development

Zero to Three Baby Brainhttp://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/brain-development/baby-brain-map.htmlhttp://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_key_brain_quiz

Take Away from theoristsTake Away from theoristsNoam Chomsky

Lev Vygotsky

Jean Piaget

B. F. Skinner

Processing Language involvesProcessing Language involves• Auditory processing

• Comprehension

• Muscle movement

• Formulating thoughts into speech production

5 Aspects of Language Knowledge5 Aspects of Language Knowledge

Phonetic Semantic Syntactic Morphemic Morphemic Pragmatic

Image by Guiding Steps Academy

PhoneticPhonetic

Phonetic knowledge refers to knowledge about sound-symbol relations in a language.

Otto 2010

Image by Shae Hazelton

Semantics KnowledgeSemantics Knowledge

Semantic Knowledge refers to the word labels that specify concepts and also to the semantic networks, or schemata, that represent the interrelations between pconcepts.

Otto 2010

http://psychology.about.com/od/sindex/g/def_schema.htm

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Schematic view of ballSchematic view of ball

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SyntaxSyntax

Morphemic KnowledgeMorphemic Knowledge

The smallest unit of meaning in a language is called a morpheme.

Two types of morphemes◦ Free morphemes can be used alone as words Free morphemes can be used alone as words

example: house, turtle, book◦ Bound morphemes must be attached to a free

morphemes for example: the final –s houses, the ly – slowly, and the ing- booking

Otto 2010

Pragmatic KnowledgePragmatic Knowledge

The knowledge or awareness of how to use language appropriately in different settings and situations represents pragmatic knowledge. p g g

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Critical periodsCritical periods Phonetic knowledge birth to 10 years old Syntactic and morphemic knowledge birth

to puberty Vocabulary and pragmatic knowledge do not

appear to be limited by a critical period Semantic knowledge occur throughout life.

Image by Jason Dunn

Critical Environmental FactorsCritical Environmental Factors

Adult Child Interactions◦ Eye contact and shared referencing◦ Communication loops◦ Child directed speechp◦ Verbal mapping

Image by Jason Dunn

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Critical Environmental FactorsCritical Environmental Factors◦ Questioning◦ Linguistic scaffolding◦ Expansion or recasting◦ Mediation

Image by Jason Dunn

Reflection on learningReflection on learning

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