Cognitive Theories

Language DevelopmentModule 9

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9.1LEARNING THEORIES

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Behaviorist View Skinner basics:Learn language by imitation & reinforcementBaBa, DadaWhat might be a problem with behaviorist view?

Problems with Behaviorist View?

1. Natural variation in learning languageChildren make up own sentences Go there means:I want to get back into the stroller.Learn words 2. Not always reinforcement for new wordsGain Infinite GenerativityProduce endless number of meaningful sentences using finite set of words and rules

NativismNoam Chomsky Chomsky's LAD hypothesisLAD Language Acquisition Device Humans prewired to learn language at certain timeAble to detect various features & rules of language No physical structureBehaviorists opposed Reinforced for saying Mama

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Interactionist View of Language DevelopmentBiology & environmental experiences Contribute to language developmentWhich are?Acquire native languageWithout explicit teachingWorldwide same timeResearchProfessionals spoke more to children than welfare recipientsProfessionals childrenVocabularies twice as large

Nature of Language and How it Develops in Infancy

Interactionist ViewChildren learn language in specific contextsFather & baby bookfather points to birdson repeats word

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9.3THE BEGINNINGS OF ORAL COMMUNICATION

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3 mo. old twin boys

Beginnings of Oral Communication

Babies communicate by sounds & gesturesSequence of 1st year communication1. Crying2. Cooing 3. Babbling 4. Gestures

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Beginnings of Oral CommunicationBabblingBegins about 2 mo.'s.Strings of consonant-vowel combinations, such as ba, ba, ba, baUniversalConsonant:B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, X, Z, (W Y)SoundsVowelA, E, I, O, U (Y)

Beginnings of Oral Communication6 mo.'s, BabbleBabble sounds of language exposed Do not respond to sounds in other languages not commonly exposed to.First WordsReceptive vocabulary5 mo.'s may recognize their name13 mo.s understand 50 words

Beginnings of Oral CommunicationHolophrasesOne word for entire thoughtCoolSpoken vocabulary9 mo.'s 1 year, holophrases Important objects & personsDadaBall Doggie

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6hxpzGHObc

Beginnings of Oral CommunicationSpoken vocabulary spurt18 mo. old 50 100 words2 yr. old 300 words

Beginnings of Oral CommunicationTelegraphic speechEconomical use of wordsRead bookCorrect order of wordsOpposed to book readVerb, noun

Beginnings of Oral CommunicationOverextension Cat may mean all animalsUnderextensionUse a word too narrowlyBoy may mean only boys his age

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Beginnings of Oral CommunicationSex differences in language exposure What do you think they are?

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Beginnings of Oral Communication

Sex differences in language exposure Girls talked to in softer tonesBoys talked to more sternlyYour experience? Boys more verbal attention throughout schoolPositiveNegativeWhy?

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Beginnings of Oral CommunicationSex differences in language exposure cont.Boys more rough activities?No answer

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9.4Language Development in Middle Childhood and Adolescence

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Language Development in Middle Childhood and AdolescenceSame school Low SES students language suffersProblems in PronunciationVocabulary sizeSyntaxThe proper ordering and usage of language, including parts of speechEffect future career choices

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Language Development in Middle Childhood and AdolescenceElementary schoolLearn rules for languageCultural SituationalAdolescenceLanguage more abstractReflective SubtleBody languageToneFacial expressions

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Language Development in Middle Childhood and AdolescenceAdolescence cont.Pay attention to othersThoughtsFeelingsMotivationCollaboration in schoolCommunicate more clearlyEnjoy education moreAround 10Learn to read goes to read to learnExploration Internet surfing

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9.5The Role of Speech in Cognition: Vygotsky, Piaget and Private Speech

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The Role of Speech in Cognition: Vygotsky, Piaget and Private SpeechVygotskyLanguage used in 2 ways1. External speechSocial communication2. Private speech (adults inner speech)Mental reasoningDone outloudPiagetMaturation drives languageConservationAbstract thinking

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