Language Development & Language Acquisition - Chapter 8

Question 1

Language Development

Answer 1

• Newborns distinguish function and content words, then prefer the content words by 6 months
• Naming explosion: a rapid increase in vocabulary size around 20-24 months aided by ‘fast mapping’
  
  • Receptive vocabulary larger than productive vocabulary

Question 2

Learning the rules of language

Answer 2

• During language development children make predictable errors
  
  • Overextension (~2 years old)
  • Underextension (~2 years old)
  • Overgeneralization (~3-4 years old)
  • “I runned into the gooses”

Question 3

Abstract aspects of language

Answer 3

• Metalinguistic awareness
• Between the ages of 6-8 years children can learn to
  understand irony and sarcasm (i.e., pragmatics)

Question 4

Metalinguistic awareness

Answer 4

Understanding of how
language is being used

Question 5

Sensitive Period (Language Acquisition)

Answer 5

• A time during childhood during which children’s brains are primed to develop language skills
  
  • Ability fades starting seventh year
  • Same with sign language

Question 6

Critical Period for Language

Answer 6

• A time during development in which a child needs to be exposed to language or else language skills will not develop normally
  
  • Exposure needs to occur
    within first 12 years
• Genie case study
  
  • Developed large
    vocabulary but never mastered more complex
    language skills