Lecture 5 Language Development in Infancy.pptx

Language development in childhood

1. Infancy Language Development

2. Language Language is defined as the systematic, meaningful arrangement of symbols, which provides the basis for communication.

3. Vocabulary By the age of 15 months, an average child vocabulary is of 10 words and is methodologically expanding. Between 16 and 24 months of age, there is an explosion of language in which child’s vocabulary typically increases from 50 to 400 words. The increase in vocabulary that comes around 18 months is accompanied by linking together of individual words into sentences that convey a single thought.

4. Basic young infant sounds Cooing, crying, gurgling & murmuring. These sounds though meaningless, play an important role in linguistic development.

5. Pre-linguistic Communication A communication through sounds, facial expressions, gestures, imitations and other non-linguistic means. Babbling refers to making speech like but meaningless sounds. Starts at 3 months and continues until the age of one year.

6. Verbal and gestural babbling

7. Holophrases Telegraphic Speech One word utterances that stand for a whole phrase, whose meaning depends on the particular context in which they are used. Speech in which words not critical to the message are left out. For example: - Mama, kitty etc. For example: - I want keys

8. Under-extension Over-extension The overly restrictive use of words, common among children just mastering spoken language. The overly broad use of words, overgeneralizing their meaning. Blanket example- ‘blankie’ Motor vehicles example

9. Referential Style Expressive Style A style of language use in which language is used primarily to label objects. A style of language use in which language is used primarily to express feelings and needs about oneself and other. US mothers Japanese mothers

10. Language as an innate skill Nativist approach to language: - The theory that a genetically determined, innate mechanism directs language development. Universal Grammar:- Noam Chomsky’s theory that all the world’s languages share a similar underlying structure.

11. Language Acquisition Device Also abbreviated as LAD LAD is considered a neural system of the brain, hypothesized to permit a formal understanding of language. It helps in understanding language structure and provides a set of strategies and techniques for learning the particular characteristics of language to which the child is exposed.

12. Video Link https://youtu.be/AhnhELWYPi8