What is language?
* Language- symbols that convey meaning plus rules for combining said symbols that can be used to generate an infinite variety of messages
* What makes it a language?
-symbolic
- semantic
- shared meanings
- generative
- structured
* What makes it a language?
-symbolic
- semantic
- shared meanings
- generative
- structured
Structure of Language
Phonemes
* Phonemes- smallest speech units that can be distinguished perceptually
Morphemes and Semantics
* morphemes- smallest unit of meaning in language
* semantics- area of language concerned with understanding meanings of words and word combos
- denotation- dictionary definition
- connotation- emotional overtones and secondary implications
Syntax
* syntax- system of rules that specify how words can be arranged in sentences
* Phonemes- smallest speech units that can be distinguished perceptually
Morphemes and Semantics
* morphemes- smallest unit of meaning in language
* semantics- area of language concerned with understanding meanings of words and word combos
- denotation- dictionary definition
- connotation- emotional overtones and secondary implications
Syntax
* syntax- system of rules that specify how words can be arranged in sentences
Milestones in Language Development
Producing Words
* 4 mos- 12 mos-> age where you can distinguish between phonemes of language (even if not native)
Using Words
* receptive vocab- comprehending vocab
* Productive vocab- Making vocab
* Toddlers have big receptive vocab but not much productive vocab
* 18-24 mos-> vocab spurt
* fast-mapping- process where children map a word onto an underlying concept after only one exposure
- reason why you don't say stupid things in front of 4 year olds
* overextension- where a kid incorrectly uses a word to describe wider set of object/ actions than it's meant to
- occurs in 1-2.5 years
* underextension- opposite of over extension
Combining Words
* Telegraphic speech- consists of when content words, articles, prepositions, and other less critical words are omitted
- ex: "give doll" for give me the doll
* Mean length of utterance (MLU)- average length of youngsters' spoken statements
* overregularizations- grammatical rules are incorrectly generalized to irregular verbs / other things
Refining language skills
* metalinguistic awareness- ability to reflect use of language
Learning more than one language
* bilingualism- you shouldn't be in any AP class if I need to define this...
* little negative effect of bilingualism on language development of kids
* acculturation- degree to where a person is socially and psychologically integrated into a new culture
* 4 mos- 12 mos-> age where you can distinguish between phonemes of language (even if not native)
Using Words
* receptive vocab- comprehending vocab
* Productive vocab- Making vocab
* Toddlers have big receptive vocab but not much productive vocab
* 18-24 mos-> vocab spurt
* fast-mapping- process where children map a word onto an underlying concept after only one exposure
- reason why you don't say stupid things in front of 4 year olds
* overextension- where a kid incorrectly uses a word to describe wider set of object/ actions than it's meant to
- occurs in 1-2.5 years
* underextension- opposite of over extension
Combining Words
* Telegraphic speech- consists of when content words, articles, prepositions, and other less critical words are omitted
- ex: "give doll" for give me the doll
* Mean length of utterance (MLU)- average length of youngsters' spoken statements
* overregularizations- grammatical rules are incorrectly generalized to irregular verbs / other things
Refining language skills
* metalinguistic awareness- ability to reflect use of language
Learning more than one language
* bilingualism- you shouldn't be in any AP class if I need to define this...
* little negative effect of bilingualism on language development of kids
* acculturation- degree to where a person is socially and psychologically integrated into a new culture
Language in Evolutionary Context
* steven pinker-> special talent for language is species specific and trait was produced from natural selection
* Dunbar-> language evolved as a device to maintain and build social coalitions
* Dunbar-> language evolved as a device to maintain and build social coalitions
Theories of Language Acquisition
1. Behaviorists: learn language through imitiation and reinforcement and other conditioning (Skinner)
2. Nativists: ( by Noam Chomsky) Kids learn the RULES of language not specific verbal responses like Skinner Said
-* humans have inborn and native propensity to develop language*
* Language Acquisition Device (LAD)- innate mechanism or process that facilitates learning of language
3. Interactionist: Biology and learning is both really important
* three more subgroups:
- cognitive- important aspect of more general cognitive development-> depends on maturation and experience
- social communication theories- functional value of interpersonal communication and social context in which it evolves is important
- emergentist theories- neural circuits supporting language aren't prewired but emerge gradually in response to language learning experiences
2. Nativists: ( by Noam Chomsky) Kids learn the RULES of language not specific verbal responses like Skinner Said
-* humans have inborn and native propensity to develop language*
* Language Acquisition Device (LAD)- innate mechanism or process that facilitates learning of language
3. Interactionist: Biology and learning is both really important
* three more subgroups:
- cognitive- important aspect of more general cognitive development-> depends on maturation and experience
- social communication theories- functional value of interpersonal communication and social context in which it evolves is important
- emergentist theories- neural circuits supporting language aren't prewired but emerge gradually in response to language learning experiences
Culture Language and Thought
* Linguistic relativity- hypothesis that one's language determines nature of one's thought
- hard to research so not well supported
- hard to research so not well supported
Problem Solving: In Search of Solutions
Types of Problems
* Problem solving- active efforts to discover what must be done to acheive a goal that isn't readily available.
Can I ask you guys a favor? Can you actually read the last couple pages, there's wayyy too much vocab in there.. you just need to know the general idea.. (evidence of senioritis)
* Problem solving- active efforts to discover what must be done to acheive a goal that isn't readily available.
Can I ask you guys a favor? Can you actually read the last couple pages, there's wayyy too much vocab in there.. you just need to know the general idea.. (evidence of senioritis)