Chapter 7: Language Development – Flashcards

the systematic, meaningful arrangement of symbols, provides the basis for communication

refers to the basic sounds of language, called phonemes, that can be combined to produce words and sentences

the smallest language unit that has meaning. Ex: endings like "-s" for plural or "-ed" for past tense

the rules that govern the meaning of words and sentences

the understanding of speech

the use of language to communicate

communication through sounds, facial expressions, gestures, imitation, and other nonlinguistic means

making speech-like but meaningless sounds, starts at age of 2 or 3 months and continues to around age of 1 year

one-word utterances that stand for a whole phrase, whose meaning depends on the particular context in which they are used

words used too restrictively

using words too broadly (overgeneralizing their meaning)

the number of ways children combine words and phrase to form sentences

the aspect of language relating to communication effectively and appropriately with others

spoken language that is not intended for others

speech directed toward another person and meant to be understood by that person

an understanding of one's own use of language

language acquisition follows the fundamental laws of reinforcement and conditioning discussed in the first chapter

argues that there is a genetically determined, innate mechanism that directs the development of language

chomsky's analysis of different languages suggests that all the world's languages share a similar underlying structure called universal grammar

human brain is wired with a neural system called the LAD that permits the understanding of language structure and provides a set of strategies and techniques for learning the particular characteristics of the language to which a child is exposed

states that language shapes and may even determine the way people of a particular culture perceive and understand the world

a style of speech that characterizes much of the verbal communication directed toward infants