1
Q
Why do humans dominate the world?
A
Because humans have language, which lets us share ideas, cooperate, and build complex societies
2
Q
Do other smart animals communicate like humans?
A
No — animals like dolphins and chimps communicate, but not in the complex, flexible way humans do
3
Q
What key ability gives humans a major advantage over other species?
A
Human language
3
Q
At what age can babies discriminate phonemes like “bah” vs. “gah”?
A
Around 1 month old
4
Q
Define: Human dominance
A
Humans’ ability to control and shape the world due to advanced language and cooperation
4
Q
How does language help humans succeed?
A
It allows us to share information, work together, and create complex culture/society
5
Q
When can babies recognize and prefer their mother’s voice?
A
Within the first days of life
6
Q
Define: Human language advantage
A
A unique communication system that lets humans share detailed ideas and coordinate large groups
6
Q
What does phoneme discrimination mean?
A
The ability to tell tiny sound differences (e.g., “bah” vs. “gah”)
7
Q
What is infant-directed speech?
A
A special way adults talk to babies (“baby talk”) to help them learn sounds and pay attention
8
Q
When is infant-directed speech commonly used?
A
Throughout infancy
9
Q
Define: Phoneme discrimination
A
Recognizing small sound differences between speech sounds
10
Q
Define: Pragmatics
A
Social rules of communication, like turn-taking
10
Q
What is babbling and when does it start?
A
Babbling = consonant-vowel combos (like “ba-ba”), starting around 4–6 months
11
Q
Define: Perception of language
A
Early abilities that let babies hear, prefer, and distinguish speech sounds
12
Q
Define: Infant-directed speech
A
High-pitched, slow, exaggerated speech used to support infant language learning
13
Q
What do cooing and babbling show?
A
They show early vocal practice and preparation for real speech
14
Q
Define: Babbling
A
Repeated consonant-vowel patterns used to practice speech
14
Q
What is cooing and when does it start?
A
Cooing = vowel-like sounds, starting around 2 months
15
Q
What is pragmatics in early development?
A
Learning how to use language socially (turn-taking, communication rules)
16
Q
Define: Cooing
A
Early vowel-like sounds produced by infants
16
Q
When do babies start turn-taking?
A
Around 7–8 month
16
Q
When do babies start babbling?
A
4-6 months
16
Q
When do babies start cooing?
A
2 months
17
what shows early vocal practice ?
cooling
17
How do one-word utterances work?
The word acts like a mini sentence expressing a full idea
18
What is the holophrastic stage?
The stage where children speak in single meaningful words
18
what shows practice for real speech patterns ?
babbling
18
When do babies say their first meaningful word?
Between 10–15 months
19
What does a “first meaningful word” show?
That babies understand meaning, not just sounds
20
What is an example of a one-word utterance?
- “Cookie” = “I want a cookie”
- “Up” = “Pick me up”
20
What is another name for the one-word stage?
The holophrastic stage
20
What is a one-word utterance?
A single word that conveys a whole sentence-worth of meaning
21
Define: Holophrastic stage
The one-word stage of language development
21
Why are one-word utterances important?
They show babies can express meaning even with very limited vocabulary
22
Do babies understand more words than they can say?
Yes — babies understand way more than they can produce
22
Define: One-word utterance
A single word that expresses a full idea or sentence
22
What does “up” usually mean in early speech?
“Pick me up”
22
What does “cookie” usually mean in early speech?
“I want a cookie”
22
How does production develop in the first year?
It grows slowly at first, then gradually increases
23
Define: First meaningful word
The first real word a child uses to communicate meaning (10–15 months)
23
What colour represents production on the graph?
Purple
24
Which develops faster: comprehension or production?
Comprehension develops much faster
24
Around what age does comprehension start increasing rapidly?
After about 12 months
24
Define: Comprehension (in language development)
Understanding words and meaning before being able to say them
24
What colour represents comprehension on the graph?
Red
24
What does the big gap between comprehension and production show?
Babies know and understand meaning before they can speak it
24
How many new words do children learn per week during the naming burst?
10–20 new words per week
24
When does production begin to noticeably increase?
After about 12–15 months
24
What is the naming burst (vocabulary spurt)?
A big jump in learning words very quickly
25
Define: Comprehension–production gap
The difference between how many words a baby understands vs. how many they can say
25
By around 18 months, how many words do babies typically understand compared to produce?
They understand far more (around 100+) and produce much fewer (a small number)
25
Why is comprehension ahead of production?
Understanding language is easier and develops earlier than forming words
25
Define: Production (in language development)
The ability to produce speech and say words
25
What are two-word utterances?
Short combinations of two words to express simple meaning (e.g., “mommy go”)
25
What age range shows the naming burst?
18–24 months
25
About how many words can a 2-year-old produce?
Around 200 words
25
Define: Telegraphic speech
Speech that drops small function words but keeps the core meaning
25
Overall, what is the pattern of early word learning?
Kids learn nouns first, then some verbs, then modifiers, and social/function words last
25
Define: Naming burst / vocabulary spurt
A rapid increase in word learning between 18–24 months
25
What is telegraphic speech?
Speech missing small words but the meaning is still clear
26
When do two-word utterances begin?
Around 18–24 months
26
What are specific nominals?
Names for specific people or objects (e.g., “mommy”)
26
What are modifiers?
Describing words like
26
What do two-word utterances show?
Children are starting to combine words and build early grammar
26
Why is it called telegraphic speech?
It’s like a telegram: no little words, only the important ones
26
Which words are learned the least often?
Function words (e.g., what, for)
26
Which group makes up the largest percentage of early words?
General nominals (over 50%)
26
Define: Two-word utterances
Early mini-sentences made of two words (e.g., “baby eat”)
26
What are personal social words?
Words used for social interaction (e.g., yes, no, please)
26
What kind of words do children learn first?
General nominals (common nouns like ball, dog)
26
Define: General nominals
Common nouns referring to general things (ball, dog)
26
What are action words?
Words describing actions (e.g., give, bye-bye)
26
Do children learn specific nominals often?
Yes, but less often than general nouns
26
When do modifiers appear?
They also appear later, after nouns and some verbs
27
Why are function words learned last?
They’re abstract, harder to understand, and less meaningful on their own
27
When do action words appear?
They appear after nouns — later
27
Define: Personal social words
Social communication words (yes, no, please)
27
What is the “nature” view of language?
The idea that humans are born with special abilities for language
27
Define: Action words
Verbs expressing actions (give, bye-bye)
27
Define: Specific nominals
Names for particular people or objects (mommy)
27
What question does “nature vs. nurture” try to answer?
Whether language comes from biological ability or experience
27
What does Skinner argue about language?
Language is learned through reinforcement and interaction
27
Define: Function words
Small grammatical words (what, for)
27
Define: Modifiers
Describing words (red, dirty)
27
What is speech perception?
Hearing speech clearly and telling sounds apart
27
Who is associated with the nature view?
Noam Chomsky
27
What does Chomsky argue about language?
Language is innate — we are naturally wired for it
27
What does “innate” mean in the context of language?
We are born with built-in language structures
28
What is the “nurture” view of language?
The idea that language is learned through experience and environment
28
Who is associated with the nurture view?
B.F. Skinner.
28
What is syntax/grammar?
Putting words together in the right order to make meaning
28
What does “learned” mean in the context of language?
Language develops through teaching, imitation, and environment
28
Define: Nature (language theory)
The belief that language ability is inborn
28
Why is vocabulary hard to learn?
Children must memorize thousands of words quickly
28
Define: Syntax/Grammar
Rules for organizing words into meaningful sentences
28
Define: Nurture (language theory)
The belief that language is learned from the environment
28
Define: Chomsky
A linguist who believed language is innate
28
Define: Skinner
A behaviorist who believed language is learned
28
Why is grammar challenging?
Kids must learn rules for creating sentences and meaning
28
Why is language hard?
Because each part (sounds, words, grammar) is complex
28
Define: Speech perception
The ability to hear speech and differentiate sounds
28
What are the three major challenges in learning language?
Speech perception, vocabulary, and syntax/grammar
28
What is vocabulary in language development?
Learning and remembering lots of new words
28
Why is speech perception difficult?
Speech is fast, blended, and infants must separate sounds to understand
28
Define: Vocabulary
The set of words a person knows and uses
28
Why is “John rumoured that Phil would quit” ungrammatical?
Because “rumoured” isn’t used as a verb that way
28
What do these ungrammatical sentences show?
Knowing vocabulary isn’t enough — we need syntax rules too
28
Why is “Mary dined the vegetables” ungrammatical?
Because “dine” doesn’t take a direct object
28
What makes a sentence ungrammatical?
Incorrect verb use, sentence structure, or word order
28
Do we still understand the words in an ungrammatical sentence?
Yes — the words make sense, but the structure is wrong
28
What is speech perception?
Hearing speech clearly and telling sounds apart
28
Why do the sentences on the slide sound wrong?
Because they are ungrammatical — they break grammar rules
28
Why is vocabulary challenging?
Children must learn thousands of words fast
28
Why is “There sounds to be somebody in there” ungrammatical?
Wrong verb form: we don’t say “sounds to be”
28
Why is “She went the stairs up in a hurry” ungrammatical?
Incorrect word order — should be “up the stairs”
28
Define: Ungrammatical sentence
A sentence that breaks grammar rules, making it sound wrong
28
Define: Syntax
The rules for how words are organized to form sentences
28
What is the “speed” challenge in language?
You must do all language processes very fast
28
What is vocabulary in language learning?
Knowing and remembering lots of words
28
Why is speech perception hard?
Sounds happen quickly and can be similar, so the brain must process them accurately
29
Define: Syntax/Grammar
The rules for organizing words into sentences
29
Why is language hard?
Because the brain must handle many tasks at once to understand and produce language
29
What is syntax/grammar?
Following rules for word order and sentence structure
29
Define: Vocabulary
The set of words you know and use
29
Why is grammar difficult?
You must apply rules while speaking, understanding, and forming sentences
29
Define: Speech perception
The ability to hear and distinguish speech sounds
29
Why does speed make language hard?
The brain has to hear sounds, pick meanings, and apply grammar in real time
29
What does Chomsky’s Nativist theory say about language?
Language ability is built into the brain (innate)
29
Why do children learn language so fast according to Chomsky?
Because they are born prepared for language
29
Define: Nativist theory
The idea that humans are born with language-learning abilities.
29
What does it mean that young children “master language at a young age”?
Kids quickly learn grammar and structure without formal teaching
29
What is the Language Acquisition Device (LAD)?
An innate tool in the brain for learning grammar
29
Define: Speed (in language processing)
The rapid pace at which the brain must process sounds, meanings, and grammar
29
What does it mean that children utter completely unique sentences?
Kids create new sentences on their own — they aren’t just copying adults
29
What type of words do kids use earliest?
Mostly content words (nouns, verbs)
29
What are Language Universals?
Basic patterns or structures that all languages share
29
What is Universal Grammar?
A set of built-in grammatical rules shared across all languages
29
What does Chomsky say about the role of experience?
Children need input, but the ability to learn is innate
29
Why is Chomsky’s theory called “nativist”?
It emphasizes that language is inborn, not learned purely from the environment
29
How does Universal Grammar help children?
It gives them expectations about how language works, speeding up learning
29
What does this suggest about grammar?
Children have built-in skills for learning grammar
29
Define: Universal Grammar
Innate grammatical rules shared across languages
29
Define: Language Acquisition Device (LAD)
A built-in brain mechanism that helps children learn grammar
29
Do young children struggle with complex word order?
No — they handle grammar rules naturally, even though it’s complex
29
Define: Language Universals
Common features found in all human languages
29
Why is this important for Chomsky’s theory?
It shows language ability is innate, not learned by imitation alone
29
Do children get perfect modeling or correction from parents?
No — parents don’t teach grammar directly
29
Define: Unique sentences (in child language)
Original sentences created by the child, not memorized
29
why is lack of correction important for Chomsky’s view?
Kids still learn grammar, which supports the idea of an innate ability
29
Why don’t young children use common words like “the” and “a” early on?
Because small function words develop later
29
Why do parents speak to children in a “specialized way”?
To help kids learn words and sentence structure (e.g., “baby talk”)
29
Define: Poverty of the stimulus (implied here)
Children learn language even though the input they receive is imperfect
29
Define: Function words
Small grammatical words like “the,” “a,” “is”
29
Why is this important?
It shows language is learned from the environment
29
What does Skinner’s learning theory say about language?
Children learn language through hearing, imitation, and reinforcement
29
How do children learn labels for objects and people?
Parents name things (“dog,” “cup”) → kids connect words to objects
29
Define: Labeling
Naming objects so children can learn and attach meaning to words
29
Why are labels important?
They help kids build vocabulary through association
29
What is the critical period for language?
A window in early life when language is learned best and easiest
29
What is this specialized speech style called?
Infant-directed speech
30
How do young children learn to speak according to Skinner?
They learn to speak the language around them
30
How does correction help language learning?
Corrections and feedback act as reinforcement, shaping correct speech
30
Define: Reinforcement (in language learning)
Feedback that strengthens correct language use
30
Who is Genie (in language research)?
A child who was isolated and missed early language exposure
30
Does Skinner believe children learn grammar through innate ability?
No — he argues grammar is learned, not built in
30
Define: Learning theory (Skinner)
Language develops through conditioning, imitation, and reinforcement
30
How does this support Universal Grammar?
Children add grammar on their own, suggesting built-in language rules
30
Why is the critical period important?
Missing this window makes later language learning much harder, especially grammar
30
Define: Infant-directed speech
A parent’s specialized speech style that helps children learn words and structure
30
How does Genie’s case support the critical period?
It shows early exposure is necessary for normal language development
30
What is fast-mapping?
When children learn a new word after hearing it once
30
What does Genie’s case show?
Without early language input, later learning is extremely difficult, especially grammar.
30
Define: Universal Grammar (UG)
Chomsky’s idea that children have innate grammar-building abilities
30
Define: Fast-mapping
Instant learning of a new word from a single exposure
30
Why is fast-mapping useful?
It helps kids build vocabulary very quickly
30
Define: Critical period
A sensitive early-life time when language can be learned most easily
30
Define: Genie case
A real example showing the importance of early language experience
30
What does the map likely show?
Locations around the world where creole languages developed
30
What is a creole language?
A complete, fully grammatical language created by children
30
What is a pidgin language?
A simple mix of languages used for basic communication (no full grammar)
30
What does the frontal lobe do for language?
Helps with planning speech and grammar
30
Define: Creolization
The process of a pidgin becoming a full creole language
30
What happens when children grow up hearing a pidgin?
They add grammar and turn it into a full language (a creole)
30
Define: Pidgin
A simple, grammar-poor language used for basic communication
30
Define: Creole
A full, complex language created when children add grammar to a pidgin
30
Why is children turning pidgin into creole important?
It shows kids naturally create complex grammar, even when input is limited
30
Why do adults perform worse than 6-month-olds?
Adults have become specialized for their native language only
30
What does “Language and the Brain” mean?
Different brain areas handle different parts of language
30
What is noun mediation?
Brain areas that help use and understand nouns
30
Which hemisphere does most language work?
The left hemisphere
30
Why is this important?
It shows language is organized, not random in the brain
30
What is “verb working memory” (Poldrack, 1998) ?
A brain area for holding and processing verbs.
30
What is verb mediation?
Brain areas that help use and process verbs
30
What does the temporal lobe do for language?
It helps with understanding words and meaning
30
What does the parietal lobe contribute?
Helps with word-form and sentence implementation
30
Define: Left hemisphere specialization
The left side of the brain does most language processing
30
What does the occipital lobe do?
Handles vision, which supports reading and visual language cues
30
what are the 4 brain lobes ?
- parietal
- occipital
- temporal
- frontal
30
Define: Verb working memory
A frontal-lobe system for holding and processing verb information
30
Define: Temporal lobe (language role)
Understanding words + meanings
30
What happens by 10–12 months?
Babies lose sensitivity to non-native sounds and tune into their own language
30
Define: Word-form and sentence implementation
Brain areas that help put words into correct forms and order
30
What does this show about infants’ early abilities?
Babies start life able to hear all language sound differences
30
Define: Native-language tuning
Infants specialize in their own language’s sound contrasts by 10–12 months
30
How do 6-month-old infants perform on foreign sound contrasts?
Almost as well as native speakers
30
How do 10–12-month-old infants perform?
Similar to English-speaking adults (poor)
30
What did Werker & Tees (1984) study?
Whether English-environment infants can hear Hindi phonemic distinctions
30
How do English-speaking adults perform?
Very poorly — they can’t hear the Hindi distinction well
30
TRUE OR FALSE
babies start life able to hear all language sound differences
TRUE
30
TRUE OR FALSE
by "6 months" still very good at hearing foreign sounds
TRUE
30
Define: Phonemic distinction
Being able to hear the difference between two speech sounds
30
What does the decline in ability show?
Adults (and older infants) lose the ability to hear non-English contrasts
30
TRUE OR FALSE
by 10-12 months, babies lose senstivity too, turning to their own language
TRUE
30
Define: Perceptual narrowing
When infants lose the ability to distinguish foreign sounds and focus on their own language
30
How accurate are 6–8 month-olds at hearing Hindi contrasts?
95% accuracy
31
What did Werker & Tees (1984) study?
Infants’ ability to hear Hindi phonemic distinctions in an English-speaking environment
31
How accurate are 8–10 month-olds?
70% accuracy
31
What does the drop in accuracy show?
Babies are tuning to their native language and losing the ability to hear foreign sounds
31
How accurate are 10–12 month-olds?
Only 20% accuracy
32
Why do infants lose ability to hear foreign-language sounds?
Because they specialize in their own language as they grow
33
What is the perceptual magnet effect?
Native-language sounds act like “magnets,” making similar sounds harder to distinguish
34
How does the perceptual magnet effect relate to language learning?
It helps infants sharpen perception for their native sounds while losing foreign contrasts
35
What does 8–10 months (70%) show?
They’re starting to lose sensitivity to foreign sounds
35
Define: Perceptual magnet effect
A phenomenon where native sounds “pull” similar sounds toward them, making them seem more alike
36
Define: Phonemic distinction
Ability to hear the difference between speech sounds
36
Define: Perceptual narrowing
The process where infants lose sensitivity to non-native sounds
36
What happens to babies’ ability to hear foreign-language sounds as they grow?
They lose the ability — they stop hearing foreign sounds clearly
37
Why do babies go from 95% → 70% → 20% accuracy?
Their brains are tuning to their native language, so foreign contrasts disappear
37
What does 6–8 months (95%) show?
Babies are still really good at hearing all language sounds
38
What does 10–12 months (20%) show?
They’re now like adults — focused only on their own language
38
Why does this happen?
The brain is locking in the sounds that matter for your language
38
What is the perceptual magnet effect?
Native-language sounds become “magnets,” so similar sounds get harder to tell apart
39
What does the magnet effect explain?
Why babies can’t hear non-English contrasts later — their own sounds “pull in” the others
40
What is semantics?
Understanding what words mean
41
What does semantics focus on?
Word meaning — knowing what a word refers to
42
What is morphology?
Parts of words (prefixes, suffixes, roots)
43
What is grammar?
Rules for how words fit together to make sentences
43
What do morphology & grammar together explain?
How word parts + rules combine to form correct sentences
44
What is pragmatics?
Knowing how to use language socially (tone, context, turn-taking)
45
Why is pragmatics important?
It helps you understand how to speak appropriately in different situations
46
Semantics =
word meaning
47
Morphology =
word parts
48
Grammar =
rules for making sentences
48
Pragmatics =
social use of language (tone, context)
49
What is fast mapping?
Kids connect a new word to its meaning super quickly (after hearing it once)
50
What is overextension?
Using a word too broadly (e.g., calling all animals “dog”)
51
Why do kids overextend?
They’re still figuring out categories for words
52
What is underextension?
Using a word too narrowly (e.g., saying “dog” only for the family dog, not other dogs)
53
What are strategies for inferring word meaning?
Kids use context clues + patterns to guess meanings of new words
53
Why does underextension happen?
Kids think the word only fits one specific example
54
Why do kids rely on these strategies?
Their vocabulary is growing fast, so they must figure out meanings quickly
55
Fast mapping =
learn word after 1 hearing
56
Inferring meaning =
using context to guess new words
57
Overextension =
word too broad (“dog” = all animals)
57
Underextension =
word too narrow (“dog” = only my dog)
58
what are the two types of errors under semantics ?
overextension and underextension
59
TRUE OF FALSE
fast mapping falls under semantics
TRUE
60
What is the object scope constraint?
Kids assume a new word refers to the whole object, not its parts
61
When do kids use this strategy?
During early word learning — when they’re figuring out what words refer to
61
Why is object scope useful?
It helps kids quickly guess what a new word means without getting confused by small details
62
Example of object scope?
If someone says “guitar,” kids think it means the entire guitar, not “strings,” “knobs,” or “neck”
63
Object scope =
new word → whole object
64
TRUE OR FALSE
Kids don’t assume the word means a part of the item
Kids assume one object = one name
65
How does mutual exclusivity help kids learn new words?
If they already know the name of one object, the new word must refer to the other object
66
Why is this strategy useful?
It helps kids learn new words quickly by ruling out things that already have a known name
67
Example (apple vs. papaya):
If a child knows “apple,” then hearing “papaya” =
it must be the other fruit
68
Mutual exclusivity =
one object → one name
69
If I know “apple,” “papaya” can’t mean apple →
must be the new thing
70
What is semantic bootstrapping?
Kids use word meaning (semantics) to guess a word’s grammar role (noun, verb, adjective)
71
how do kids use semantic bootstrapping?
They look at context to figure out which words are nouns, verbs, adjectives — even if the words are totally unfamiliar
72
What does the “Clockwork Orange” example show?
Even when you don’t know the meaning of words, you can still follow the sentence structure
73
TRUE OR FALSE
Context tells which words are nouns/verbs/etc
TRUE
73
Why is semantic bootstrapping helpful?
It helps kids build grammar rules by using meaning clues
74
What is telegraphic speech?
Using only essential words (e.g., “mommy go”). Happens around 18–24 months
75
What are grammatical markers?
Little word endings like -ing, -s, -ed, -er that show grammar
75
When do grammatical markers emerge?
Around 3 years old
75
What is overregularization?
- When kids apply rules too broadly (e.g., “goed,” “mouses”)
- Shows they’re learning the rule, not copying
75
In what order do grammatical markers appear?
Universal order:
1️⃣ -ing
2️⃣ plural -s
3️⃣ past -ed
4️⃣ comparative -er
76
Telegraphic =
kids use only key words
76
Markers =
appear in a predictable order for all kids
76
Order =
-ing → plural-s → -ed → -er
77
Overregularization =
using rules too broadly (goed, mouses)
77
what are the 4 subtopics under pragmatics ?
- Turn-taking
- Gestures and nonverbal communication
- Illocutionary intent (age 3)
- Referential communication skills (age 3-5)
77
What are gestures and nonverbal communication?
- Using gestures, facial expressions, pointing, etc.
- Helps kids communicate before they have lots of vocabulary.
78
What is turn-taking?
Kids learning to wait and respond in conversations
79
Turn-taking =
kids learning to wait + respond in conversation
79
What are referential communication skills? (Age 3–5)
Kids learning to give clear info so others know what they’re talking about
80
What is illocutionary intent? (Age ~3)
Understanding what someone means —
like a request, joke, warning, etc.
81
Gestures =
help kids communicate before strong vocab
82
Illocutionary intent (~3) =
understanding the speaker’s intent
83
Referential communication (3–5) =
kids give clearer details so others understand
Child Development 2040
flashcards
Decks in class (12)
# Cards
