1st Language Development

Stages in first language acquisition.

Language Acquisition Theory

Noam Chomsky’s Theory Transformational Grammar

Deep structure of our language Language Acquisition Device (LAD)

An instinct that enables language learning Imprinting & then dying off

Brain Development theory Multiple neuron firing in a child’s brain Neural pathways start to establish at puberty

Specialization of centers in the brain

Language Development

Stage one First Words

Nouns Bilabial initial phonemes Holophrases

One Word sentences (ELL) Overextension (ELL)

Too specific a term for a general object Underextension (ELL)

Too general a term for a specific object

Language Development

Stage Two First Sentences Telegraphic Speech

Two word sentences Usually Noun & Verb

“Me go?” Whole objects not parts Mostly refers to “Type”

Language Development

Stage Three Grammar Development

Overregularizing (ELL) “I taked it!” “Okay” = yes

Three, Four, & Five word sentences Pronunciation improves greatly

All vowels in the native language All consonants in the native language

Language Development

Stage Four Vocabulary Development

6 yr. olds’ have 8,000 to 14,000 20,000 word vocabulary by age 11 Pre-school years are crucial Early trouble with abstract terms Early Trouble with communicative

competence Teasing, sarcasm, taunts, …