English Presentation by Scott Forster

7/31/2019 English Presentation by Scott Forster

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EnglishEnglishPresentation byPresentation by

Scott Forster.Scott Forster.To what extent is itTo what extent is it

appropriate to describeappropriate to describe

childrens early uses ofchildrens early uses of

language as wrong orlanguage as wrong or

incorrect?incorrect?


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Virtuous Errors.Virtuous Errors.

It has been suggested that so called virtuous errors are not theIt has been suggested that so called virtuous errors are not theresult of incorrect language use or mistakes but an unconsciousresult of incorrect language use or mistakes but an unconsciousworking out of the rules of language.working out of the rules of language.

The existence of virtuous errors is seen as evidence against aThe existence of virtuous errors is seen as evidence against aBehaviourist language acquisition process as suggested by B.F.Behaviourist language acquisition process as suggested by B.F.Skinner. If it were merely the case that children learnt from theirSkinner. If it were merely the case that children learnt from their

parents then they would not make these logical leaps.parents then they would not make these logical leaps. They would not use words in an unorthodox fashion such as IThey would not use words in an unorthodox fashion such as Ieated the bread using eated as a verb. The childs mind is noteated the bread using eated as a verb. The childs mind is notmerely a device for input and output.merely a device for input and output.

This approach can only get us so far. We must look for a deeperThis approach can only get us so far. We must look for a deeperexplanation of whats going on.explanation of whats going on.


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Chomsky.Chomsky.

For this we turn to Noam Chomsky. According toFor this we turn to Noam Chomsky. According toChomsky, Childrens brains are predisposed toChomsky, Childrens brains are predisposed to

learn language but this inclination does not meanlearn language but this inclination does not meana child necessarily will learn language. For this toa child necessarily will learn language. For this tohappen there needs to be a trigger of the childhappen there needs to be a trigger of the childhearing speech ,and from this the child canhearing speech ,and from this the child caninterpret the language based on general innateinterpret the language based on general innateprinciples known as the Language Acquisitionprinciples known as the Language Acquisition

Device (LAD). He also claimed that all humansDevice (LAD). He also claimed that all humanshave basic common principles (Universalhave basic common principles (UniversalGrammar).Grammar).

An example of this is the child realizes that pastAn example of this is the child realizes that pasttense verbs can add the inflection ed thus theytense verbs can add the inflection ed thus they

may add ed onto an irregular verb like runmay add ed onto an irregular verb like runcreatin runned.creating runned.


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Word order and Deletion.Word order and Deletion.


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Other features.Other features.

Derivational MorphologyDerivational Morphology

One example of virtuous errors is whats known asOne example of virtuous errors is whats known as

Derivational Morphology.Derivational Morphology.

Theres three ways that this can be expressed.Theres three ways that this can be expressed.

ConversionConversion whereby a child creates new words bywhereby a child creates new words byapplying patterns of language such as runned mentionedapplying patterns of language such as runned mentioned

earlier. Here the word class is changed.earlier. Here the word class is changed.

Affixation. AAffixation. A child applies an ending. I likeychild applies an ending. I likey

CompoundingCompounding. Joining existing words together to make. Joining existing words together to make

new words.new words.

e.gI thinky I knowy.e.gI thinky I knowy.

Phonological Substitution.Phonological Substitution.This is a form of phonologicalThis is a form of phonological

simplification which helps the child understand and saysimplification which helps the child understand and say

words easier.words easier.

An example is wed instead of red with the letter wAn example is wed instead of red with the letter w
http://go2.wordpress.com/?id=725X1342&site=languagefix.wordpress.com&url=http%3A%2F%2Flanguagefix.files.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fwugbumper-full.jpg&sref=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.google.co.uk%2Fimgres%3Fimgurl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Flanguagefix.files.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fwugbumper-full.jpg%26imgrefurl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Flanguagefix.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2F28%2Fmy-favorite-five-language-acquisition-studies%2F%26usg%3D__00ThMNfSsjrWEfseoOjTbpS7Kvc%3D%26h%3D700%26w%3D2100%26sz%3D48%26hl%3Den%26start%3D28%26um%3D1%26itbs%3D1%26tbnid%3DngGCgJCGhQEIBM%3A%26tbnh%3D50%26tbnw%3D150%26prev%3D%2Fimages%253Fq%253Dlanguage%252Bacquisition%2526start%253D21%2526um%253D1%2526hl%253Den%2526sa%253DN%2526rlz%253D1T4GGIH_en-GBGB218GB218%2526ndsp%253D21%2526tbs%253Disch%3A1


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Wugs.Wugs.

Jean Berko presented imaginaryJean Berko presented imaginary

creatures to children. They said thecreatures to children. They said the

creature was a Wug.creature was a Wug.

They were asked what are these?They were asked what are these?

(asked what plural of Wug would be).(asked what plural of Wug would be).

Younger children struggled but by 4Younger children struggled but by 4

or 5 most said Wugs.or 5 most said Wugs.

Here the child is applying what theyHere the child is applying what they

know about pluralisation to Wug.know about pluralisation to Wug.
http://go2.wordpress.com/?id=725X1342&site=languagefix.wordpress.com&url=http%3A%2F%2Flanguagefix.files.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fwugbumper-full.jpg&sref=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.google.co.uk%2Fimgres%3Fimgurl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Flanguagefix.files.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fwugbumper-full.jpg%26imgrefurl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Flanguagefix.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2F28%2Fmy-favorite-five-language-acquisition-studies%2F%26usg%3D__00ThMNfSsjrWEfseoOjTbpS7Kvc%3D%26h%3D700%26w%3D2100%26sz%3D48%26hl%3Den%26start%3D28%26um%3D1%26itbs%3D1%26tbnid%3DngGCgJCGhQEIBM%3A%26tbnh%3D50%26tbnw%3D150%26prev%3D%2Fimages%253Fq%253Dlanguage%252Bacquisition%2526start%253D21%2526um%253D1%2526hl%253Den%2526sa%253DN%2526rlz%253D1T4GGIH_en-GBGB218GB218%2526ndsp%253D21%2526tbs%253Disch%3A1


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What do you remember?What do you remember?

1. what was Chomskys name for Innate principles?1. what was Chomskys name for Innate principles?

Language Acquisition deviceLanguage Acquisition device

2. what are the three ways Derivation Morphology can be expressed?2. what are the three ways Derivation Morphology can be expressed?

Compounding, Conversion and AffixationCompounding, Conversion and Affixation

3. What makes the Behaviourist approach inadequate ?3. What makes the Behaviourist approach inadequate ?Virtuous Errors.Virtuous Errors.

4. Who conducted the Wugs experiment?4. Who conducted the Wugs experiment?

Jean BerkoJean Berko

English Presentation by Scott Forster

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