Language Development
QUICK LOOK AT THE CHAPTER AHEAD
The acquisition of language is one of the most stunning achievements of humans.
With no formal instruction and often exposed to faulty language models, children nevertheless learn words, meanings, and ways to combine them to communicate with others.
Children throughout the world go through exactly the same process of language development.
Key signs of language development appear during the infancy period (e.g., cooing, babbling).
Children begin to speak their first words from 10 to 13 months of age.
Holophrases refer to children using one word to convey multiple meanings.
Telegraphic speech refers to sentences of two or three words.
TERMS
Babbling
Cooing
Holophrases
Telegraphic speech
Vocables
Word spurt
One of the most amazing accomplishments of infancy is the beginning of actual speech. The sounds, the words, the two- and three-word sentences, and the tremendous explosion of vocabulary are stunning achievements that we still do not fully understand. Infants have no way of knowing what adults are trying to say. Without an understanding of what linguistic symbols are and how they work, speech is just noise. Yet with no formal learning and often exposed to dramatically faulty language models, children nevertheless learn words, meanings, and ways to combine them in a purposeful manner.
ACQUIRING LANGUAGEChildren in all parts of the world go through a process in which they first emit sounds, then single words, then two words, and finally fairly complex sentences (Table 27-1). By the time they are approximately 5 years of age, they have acquired the basics of their language, an astonishing accomplishment. Here is an example, using English.
Children in all parts of the world go through a process in which they first emit sounds, then single words, then two words, and finally fairly complex sentences.If I said to you, “Will you please park your car in the driveway?”, you would probably know exactly what I mean. When you leave, I tell you that the quickest way home is to drive on the parkway. Again, you understand exactly what is meant here. Despite the switch in words, children easily master such intricacies of language.
Or consider this: After you finish reading this section, take a break and have dinner. I suggest that you eat some ghotti—it’s always so tasty and it’s good for you. If you follow my advice, what will you be having for dinner? Put it all together: gh as in “tough,” o as in “women,” ti as in “nation”—you’ll have a delicious fish dinner.
The well-known commentator on language development, Lois Bloom (2000), has identified several transitions that help to explain children’s amazing language achievements:
The well-known commentator on language development, Lois Bloom (2000), has identified several transitions that help to explain children’s amazing language achievements.
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