LanguageA system of words and rules for combining words

to communicate thoughts and feelings

Components of language: Phonemes

Basic, smallest units of sound

Individual sounds that letters make

Most languages have 30-50

English has about 40

Components of language: Morphemes Smallest unit of language with meaning

Can be words, prefixes, suffixes and compound words

http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/what-is-language.html

Grammar

Rules for the combination and use of words

Syntax = combo of words to form phrases & sentences

Semantics = rules that govern the meaning of words & sentences

Proposed by Chomsky in the 1960s:

Surface Structure = the order of words in a sentence

Deep Structure = a representation of underlying meanings in sentences

See handout 8.15

Development of Language

Stages of development

Cooing

Babbling

Single word stage

Two-word stage “telegraphic”

Year 3…complex sentences

Talking Twin Babies - PART 2 - OFFICIAL VIDEO.mp4

Learning Theory

Conditioning & imitation

Focuses on the role of modeling and rewards

Biological Basis Theory

Chomsky’s theory of innate language acquisition

Genetic predisposition to develop language

Eric Lenneberg’s Critical Period Hypothesis

States that there is a sensitive (critical) period for language development when learning a language is easier

Language Development

http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/language-acquisition.html

Special Pre-Primer Activity: try to read by learning a new language

Secret of the Wild Child videos