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Chapter 5: Problem 7

Outline the processes by which children learn to use language. Prelinguistic communication involves the use of sounds, gestures, facial expressions, imitation, and other nonlinguistic means to express thoughts and states. Prelinguistic communication prepares the infant for speech. Infants typically produce their first words between the ages of 10 and 14 months. At around 18 months, children typically begin to link words together into primitive sentences that express single thoughts. Beginning speech is characterized by the use of holophrases, telegraphic speech, underextension, and overextension.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Children learn to use language through a process that begins with prelinguistic communication, followed by the production of first words, linking of words to form primitive sentences, and the beginning of speech characterized by the use of holophrases, telegraphic speech, underextension, and overextension.

Step by step solution

01

Prelinguistic Communication

The first stage is prelinguistic communication which involves the use of sounds, gestures, facial expressions, imitation, and other nonlinguistic means to express thoughts and states. This stage prepares the infant for speech.
02

First Words

The next stage involves the production of first words. This typically happens between the ages of 10 and 14 months. During this period, infants express their desires, emotions, and observations with single words.
03

Linking Words

At around 18 months, children begin to link words together into primitive sentences. These linked words express single thoughts and mark the start of symbolic communication.
04

Beginning Speech

Beginning speech is characterized by the use of holophrases (single words that are used to express a complete thought), telegraphic speech (speech that contains only the most necessary words), and concepts such as underextension (using a word too narrowly) and overextension (using a word too broadly). These developments mark more advanced steps in language learning.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Outline the major theories of language development. The learning theory approach to language acquisition assumes that adults and children use basic behavioral processes-such as conditioning, reinforcement, and shaping-in language learning. A different approach proposed by Chomsky holds that humans are genetically endowed with a language-acquisition device, which permits them to detect and use the principles of universal grammar that underlie all languages.

Describe how children influence adults" language. Adult language is influenced by the children to whom it is addressed. Infant- directed speech takes on characteristics, surprisingly invariant across cultures, that make it appealing to infants and that probably encourage language development. Adult language also exhibits differences based on the gender of the child to whom it is directed, which may have effects that emerge later in life.

Describe Piaget's sensorimotor stage of cognitive development. During the sensorimotor period (birth to about two years) with its six substages, infants progress from the use of \(\operatorname{sim}-\) ple reflexes, through the development of repeated and integrated actions that gradually increase in complexity, to the ability to generate purposeful effects from their actions. By the end of the sixth substage of the sensorimotor period, infants are beginning to engage in symbolic thought.

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Describe the memory capabilities of infants their first two years of life. Infants have memory capabilities from their earliest days, although the accuracy of infant memories is a matter of debate.
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