PSYC 2500H Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Baby Talk, Language Acquisition Device, Animal Language

• School: Trent University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2500H
• Professor: Geoffrey Navara

Document Summary

Phonology -> rules about structure and sequence of speech sounds. Semantics -> vocabulary, words and words combination for concepts. Grammar-> syntax (rules for sentences), morphology (grammatical markers) Language acquisition device (lad) biologically prepares infants to learn rules of language through universal grammar. Inner capacities and environment work together; social context is important. Word learning governed by mechanisms of behavioural learning: operant conditioning (skinner) Parents shape their children"s language development by selective reinforcement. Language acquisition a result of: biological maturation, cognitive development, environment. Babbling (4 months), consonants & vowels, universal timing & range expands. Holophrase: single word utterance with meaning of entire sentence. A majority of words are objects & action words. Overextension: specifics used to describe broader set, car for all motorized vehicles. Underextension: general words use to describe the specific instance, candy only for peppermints. Telegraphic speech; they only contains the crucial content. Processing and production limitations; still respond more appropriately to graphical than telegraphical.