INFANT LANGUAGE INFANT LANGUAGE AND LITERACYAND LITERACY

Chapter 8Chapter 8

Language: our most “human” achievement.Language: our most “human” achievement.

Any symbolic expression that has meaningAny symbolic expression that has meaning

Sensitive Period: babies perceive language Sensitive Period: babies perceive language differently from other soundsdifferently from other sounds

BRAIN IS WIRED FOR BRAIN IS WIRED FOR LANGUAGE DEVLANGUAGE DEV

Receptive communication: babies understand words Receptive communication: babies understand words before they speak (about 6 months) before they speak (about 6 months)

Parents should speak to their (unborn) child:Parents should speak to their (unborn) child:MenchuMenchu

Infants communicate through gesture, noises, crying Infants communicate through gesture, noises, crying before they use wordsbefore they use words

First form of communication is crying. Babies whose First form of communication is crying. Babies whose parents respond to their cries have improved parents respond to their cries have improved communication competencecommunication competence

BABBLINGBABBLING

Repetitive vocalization in child’s first year.NOT Repetitive vocalization in child’s first year.NOT considered real communicationconsidered real communication

DOES encourage interaction with caretakerDOES encourage interaction with caretaker Earliest: open vowel cooingEarliest: open vowel cooing 4-5 months: add consonants4-5 months: add consonants 9 months: vowel-consonant-vowel9 months: vowel-consonant-vowel 10-11 months: expressive jargon resembles adult 10-11 months: expressive jargon resembles adult

speechspeech

WORDSWORDS

Begin about 8 - 18 monthsBegin about 8 - 18 months OvergeneralizationOvergeneralization OverrestrictionOverrestriction Referential (objects)Referential (objects) Expressive (social expression)Expressive (social expression)

BILINGUAL CHILDRENBILINGUAL CHILDREN

1/2 children in world are bilingual. Growing 1/2 children in world are bilingual. Growing number in U.S.number in U.S.

Children learn same size vocabulary, split Children learn same size vocabulary, split between two languagesbetween two languages

Before 18 months: mental dictionaryBefore 18 months: mental dictionary After 18 months: mixed speechAfter 18 months: mixed speech Bilingual kids put 2 words together at same Bilingual kids put 2 words together at same

age as monolingual kids do despite different age as monolingual kids do despite different rules (syntax)rules (syntax)

BILIINGUAL CHILDREN,BILIINGUAL CHILDREN,continuedcontinued

Children use various strategies to make sense Children use various strategies to make sense of different rules and vocabularyof different rules and vocabulary

TODDLER LITERACYTODDLER LITERACY

It is never too early to read to children:It is never too early to read to children:

books, ads, signs, food boxes, etc.books, ads, signs, food boxes, etc.

Parents should use scaffolding to develop Parents should use scaffolding to develop literacy skillsliteracy skills

LANGUAGE DELAYSLANGUAGE DELAYS

Hearing: babbling decreases at about 6 monthsHearing: babbling decreases at about 6 months Early detection is CRUCIALEarly detection is CRUCIAL ASL is learned like verbal languageASL is learned like verbal language Be responsive to communication attemptsBe responsive to communication attempts Use language to dev. residual hearingUse language to dev. residual hearing Use total communicationUse total communication Initiate turn taking in conversationInitiate turn taking in conversation

GENERAL LANGUAGE GENERAL LANGUAGE DELAYDELAY

One of the most common disabilitiesOne of the most common disabilities Unknown cause Unknown cause Minimal brain dysfunctionMinimal brain dysfunction StressStress PovertyPoverty

CLASSROOM STRATEGIESCLASSROOM STRATEGIES

Name thingsName things ExpansionExpansion ExpatiationExpatiation Initiate conversationInitiate conversation Scaffolding (naming game) see page 162Scaffolding (naming game) see page 162