PSY274H5 Chapter Notes -Spina Bifida, Foxp2, Language Disorder
Document Summary
Most children do a lot of mimicry as part of the process of acquiring language: overt teaching is not necessary, and mimicry is not sufficient. Biology is the crucial factor: members of a british family who exhibited an inherited and rare language disorder were studied. When another child (not related) was found who exhibited the same severe disorder, a gene called foxp2 was discovered (in 2001). Language is a biological matter, and humans diverged from chimps and other primate lineages in this regard approximately 4. 6-6. 2 million years ago. Newborns come into the world recognizing the voices of their mother and those who constantly surround her. The children"s recognition of english is indicated by increased eye activity and heartbeat. Children learn to pick out individual words: the literature on first language acquisition points to the 1st birthday as the time when most children start to produce words.
