The Human Capacity for Language

The Human Capacity for Language: 

The Human Capacity for Language

Acquisition: 

Acquisition It is widely accepted that Children acquire language If they ‘learned’ language, they may just opt out (piano, soccer, etc.) Children don’t copy what they hear Children don’t receive enough data from what is spoken around them (Chomsky’s POTS) Data is flawed

Ovegeneralization: 

Ovegeneralization Mouses Foots Wugs Behave! Mans Foots tooths

How Children Don’t Acquire : 

How Children Don’t Acquire Analogy, Imitation and Reinforcement Can’t account for language development Child acquires a set of sentences rather than grammatical rules

The Innateness Hypothesis: 

The Innateness Hypothesis Language faculty is innate. The infant is endowed with a UG. UG helps children to extract the rules of their language. Children acquire a complex grammar quickly and easily. Children create grammars based on linguistic input and are guided by UG. The brain is equipped for the acquisition of human language.

Stages of First Language Acquisition: 

Stages of First Language Acquisition Prelinguistic : In womb Babbling: 4-8 months Holophrastic (one word): 9-18 months Telegraphic stage (fast mapping): 18-24 mo Multiword Early: 24-30 mo Late: 30 +

Biological Behavior : 

Biological Behavior We are designed to walk. That we are taught to walk is impossible. And pretty much the same is true of language. Nobody is taught language. In fact, you can’t prevent a child from learning it. Noam Chomsky

What do we know about Language Acquisition: 

What do we know about Language Acquisition Children before 5 already know the complex system that make up the grammar of a language Children acquire a system of rules that enables them to construct and understand sentences most of them have never produce or heard before Nobody teaches grammatical rules to children

Critical Period: 

Critical Period Is there a critical period for first language acquisition? Two case studies (Victor and Geenie )

Second Language Acquisition: 

Second Language Acquisition Second language acquisition refers to the acquisition of a second language by someone who has already acquired a first language Bilingual acquisition refers to the simultaneous use of two languages beginning before age 3. (some language mixing is a normal part of learning two languages simultaneously and does not indicate a language problem).

Interlanguage: 

Interlanguage Language Transfer: a learner uses his own native language as a resource. This used to be thought of as a mistake, but now it’s seen as a natural part of second language acquisition. A necessary process Overgeneralization: a learner uses an L2 rule in situations where a native speaker would not. Simplification: a learner uses speech that resembles that of a young learner or of pidgins.

Social Factors: 

Social Factors Affective Filter Motivation A conscious decision Attitude Self confidence Friendship

Creating Language: 

Creating Language Pidgin: no native speakers Social stigma Creole: when children are born into a pidgin environment. Prominent in port towns

Language and the Brain: 

Language and the Brain SLI Williams Syndrome Brain trauma Aphasia