language a system of words and rules for combining words to communicate thoughts and feelings
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LanguageA system of words and rules for combining words
to communicate thoughts and feelings
Components of language: Phonemes
Basic, smallest units of sound
Individual sounds that letters make
Most languages have 30-50
English has about 40
Components of language: Morphemes Smallest unit of language with meaning
Can be words, prefixes, suffixes and compound words
http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/what-is-language.html
Grammar
Rules for the combination and use of words
Syntax = combo of words to form phrases & sentences
Semantics = rules that govern the meaning of words & sentences
Proposed by Chomsky in the 1960s:
Surface Structure = the order of words in a sentence
Deep Structure = a representation of underlying meanings in sentences
See handout 8.15
Development of Language
Stages of development
Cooing
Babbling
Single word stage
Two-word stage “telegraphic”
Year 3…complex sentences
Talking Twin Babies - PART 2 - OFFICIAL VIDEO.mp4
Learning Theory
Conditioning & imitation
Focuses on the role of modeling and rewards
Biological Basis Theory
Chomsky’s theory of innate language acquisition
Genetic predisposition to develop language
Eric Lenneberg’s Critical Period Hypothesis
States that there is a sensitive (critical) period for language development when learning a language is easier
Language Development
http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/language-acquisition.html
Special Pre-Primer Activity: try to read by learning a new language
Secret of the Wild Child videos