Here is footage from the 2011 TED talk by Deb Roy, on his studies into child language acquisition , and his beliefs on the topic.
<<See the video here>>
Tuesday, 21 May 2013
Wednesday, 15 May 2013
|| LANGUAGE CHANGE: INTRODUCTION ||
This topic area explores historical and contemporary changes in the English Language from Late Modern English (1700+) to the present day, alongside explanations of their causes and impact. This module will focus on the following areas for study:
attitudes towards language change and the impact of language standardisationchanges in orthography, grammar, lexis and punctuation
changes in written and spoken style
the impact of social and political forces upon language usage and changechanges in layout and text design in written texts.
(AQA official site)
For the second part of my language exam, I will be looking at Language Change. Before I begin posting my notes though, I first want to post a link to an interesting article on BBC news. What is interesting about it is that it has the layout of a language change exam response, which will be good to consider when revising.
Click for link.
|| CLA: EARLY PHONOLOGICAL ERRORS ||
Deletion: Ommitting the final consonant in words.
E.g Do(g), Cu(p)
Substitution: Substituting one sound for another (especially the harder sounds that develop later, such as 'sh').
E.g 'Pip' for 'Ship'
Addition: Adding an extra vowel sound to the ends of words, creating a Consonant - Vowel pattern.
E.g 'Doggie'
Assimilation: Changing one consonant or vowel for another (As in the early plosive sounds 'd' & 'b').
E.g 'Gog' for 'Dog'
Reduplication: Repeating a whole syllable.
E.g 'Dada', 'Mama'
Consonant Cluster Reductions: Consonant clusters can be difficult to articulate so children reduce them.
E.g 'Pider' for 'Spider'
Deletion of Unstressed Syllables: Omitting the opening syllable in polysyllabic words.
'Nana' for 'Banana'
E.g Do(g), Cu(p)
Substitution: Substituting one sound for another (especially the harder sounds that develop later, such as 'sh').
E.g 'Pip' for 'Ship'
Addition: Adding an extra vowel sound to the ends of words, creating a Consonant - Vowel pattern.
E.g 'Doggie'
Assimilation: Changing one consonant or vowel for another (As in the early plosive sounds 'd' & 'b').
E.g 'Gog' for 'Dog'
Reduplication: Repeating a whole syllable.
E.g 'Dada', 'Mama'
Consonant Cluster Reductions: Consonant clusters can be difficult to articulate so children reduce them.
E.g 'Pider' for 'Spider'
Deletion of Unstressed Syllables: Omitting the opening syllable in polysyllabic words.
'Nana' for 'Banana'
Monday, 29 April 2013
|| NATURE VS. NURTURE: THE DEBATE ||
One of the main debates seen in the Child Language Acquisition study, is the nature over nurture debate, or more importantly, are children born with the subconscious understanding of grammar, or children are just empty vessels when they are born, and are then filled with language knowledge from their parents.
The two main theorists behind these arguments are Noam Chomsky, a CLA pioneer, and forerunner in the nature side of the debate. Whilst on the other side, we have Skinner, the pioneer in the nurture debate. Both have equally interesting concepts I wish to incorporate into my exam responses, as seen in this piece here.
NATURE is awesome. yay nature.
The main argument for the nature debate is that we have found a genome in our DNA that is specifially linked to speech. Known as the "Fox P2" gene, it directly shapes our ability to talk. This was proven further by an extended family, all with a very severe language impairment. Known as the KE Family, they prove that the Fox P2 gene is a crucial part of language, as they are lacking in this gene, therefore causing speech problems.
As well as this, we have Jean Berko's work into language acquisition as further evidence for the nature side of the debate. Berko's "Wug Test" is a well known study into language change, where Berko has created a group of nonsense words, and then tests children on their acquisition of the plural and other inflectional morphemes.
Berko's test showed that children have productive rules: they don’t learn by hearing every possible form (they hadn’t heard ‘wugs’ due to it being an invented word) but by applying linguistic rules that they subconsciously know. Although the derivation of these rules is not addressed by Berko, 'The Wug Test' could provide possible evidence for Chomsky's theory of 'Universal Grammar'.
Finally, we have the pioneer of Language Acquisition; Noam Chomsky. Known for creating the "Language Acquisition Device", which suggests that we are biologically programmed to acquire language, which explains why Deaf babies still babble, and why the Wug Text is still relevant. See here for more scripts backing up Chomsky's ideas.
NURTURE
This side of the debate suggests that children are empty vessels when born, and your care givers provide your language. This idea was initially suggested by B.F Skinner, and he then goes on to say through the uses of positive re-enforcement, children are encouraged to continue speaking.
The two main theorists behind these arguments are Noam Chomsky, a CLA pioneer, and forerunner in the nature side of the debate. Whilst on the other side, we have Skinner, the pioneer in the nurture debate. Both have equally interesting concepts I wish to incorporate into my exam responses, as seen in this piece here.
NATURE is awesome. yay nature.
The main argument for the nature debate is that we have found a genome in our DNA that is specifially linked to speech. Known as the "Fox P2" gene, it directly shapes our ability to talk. This was proven further by an extended family, all with a very severe language impairment. Known as the KE Family, they prove that the Fox P2 gene is a crucial part of language, as they are lacking in this gene, therefore causing speech problems.
As well as this, we have Jean Berko's work into language acquisition as further evidence for the nature side of the debate. Berko's "Wug Test" is a well known study into language change, where Berko has created a group of nonsense words, and then tests children on their acquisition of the plural and other inflectional morphemes.
Berko's test showed that children have productive rules: they don’t learn by hearing every possible form (they hadn’t heard ‘wugs’ due to it being an invented word) but by applying linguistic rules that they subconsciously know. Although the derivation of these rules is not addressed by Berko, 'The Wug Test' could provide possible evidence for Chomsky's theory of 'Universal Grammar'.
Finally, we have the pioneer of Language Acquisition; Noam Chomsky. Known for creating the "Language Acquisition Device", which suggests that we are biologically programmed to acquire language, which explains why Deaf babies still babble, and why the Wug Text is still relevant. See here for more scripts backing up Chomsky's ideas.
NURTURE
This side of the debate suggests that children are empty vessels when born, and your care givers provide your language. This idea was initially suggested by B.F Skinner, and he then goes on to say through the uses of positive re-enforcement, children are encouraged to continue speaking.
MAJOR NURTURE CRITICISM:
Children Produce language that isn't heard or taught. If Care Givers didn't provide this language, then how did they come by this?
Children Produce language that isn't heard or taught. If Care Givers didn't provide this language, then how did they come by this?
Thursday, 25 April 2013
|| CLA: STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT ||
The way in which children acquire language can be divided into stages, starting with the Pre-Verbal stage, and c
- The Pre-Verbal stage.
- Vegatative - Sounds of discomfort, or reflexive actions. (0-4 Months)
- Cooing - Comfort sounds and vocal play using open-mouthed vowel sounds (4-7 Months)
- Babbling - Repeating patterns of consonant and vowel sounds (6-12 Months)
- Proto-Words
- Word like vocalisation, not matching actual words but used
consistently for the same meaning, and is sometimes known as "Scribble
Talk". (9-12 Months)
E.g, using "mmm" to mean "give me that" with accompanying gestures, such as pointing, supporting verbal messages, see here for a video example.
- Lexical & Grammatical stages of development.
- Holophrastic/One-Word - One word utterances. (12-18 Months)
- Two Words - Two word combinations (18-24 Months)
- Telegraphic* - Three and more words combined, most of which are incomplete (24-36 Months)
- Post-Telegraphic - More gramatically complex combinations (36+ Months)
* CHILDREN WILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH:
- Consonant Clusters
- Negatives - In context.
|| LANGUAGE TIMELINE ||
This post shows a basic timeline of how language is acquired by children, over the first three years of their lives. This language development is fluid, and different for all. and slowly overlaps and differs into language stages.
- FIRST WORDS - Proper Nouns (these are things that they want.)
- By 2-3 years, children are learning around 10 words a day, but can't use them all.
- VERBS - Come in at 2 - 3 years.
- Children are making word constructions of 3-4 words by age 3.
- FILLERS - Come in at 3, as they begin to use "thinking while speaking".
- ADVERBS - Come in at 3 1/2 years.
|| REVISION NOTES: Child Language Acquisition ||
INTRODUCTION
Child Language Aquisition, or "CLA" is the first part of the third unit in my language course. Since studying unit one and two last year, I am eager to continue onto unit three.
We began our study into child language acquisition with a simple bullet pointed list, of facts and figures in relation to things we needed to know, and theorists we would continue to look at. I will consider this to be almost a contents page for all of my work to be connected up to, so it is easily accessible when I need it.
CHILDREN'S LANGUAGE
Child Language Aquisition, or "CLA" is the first part of the third unit in my language course. Since studying unit one and two last year, I am eager to continue onto unit three.
We began our study into child language acquisition with a simple bullet pointed list, of facts and figures in relation to things we needed to know, and theorists we would continue to look at. I will consider this to be almost a contents page for all of my work to be connected up to, so it is easily accessible when I need it.
CHILDREN'S LANGUAGE
- During the Exam, the age range for analysis will be around 3-7 years. (See here for Language acquisition timeline.)
- Language acquisition is divided up into stages, the main ones being the Pre-Verbal Stage, Holoprastic, Telegraphic, and Post-Telegraphic. (Remember that these stage overlap, and are different for each child.)
- NOAM CHOMSKY = CLA PIONEER, Nature side of debate.
- SKINNER, Nurture side of debate.
- Care Giver's language is important to consider when writing exam responses.
- Nature/Nurture debate.
|| USEFUL LINK ||
Before I begin posting my own notes, I have recently found an excellent blog with revision notes that could help me a lot, as it is full of exam techniques, theorists, and various revision for the units I am studying. I will continue to refer to this blog throughout my revision posts.
The blog link can be found here.
The blog link can be found here.
|| Prologue ||
A good start to revision is to first visit the site of your examiners, to see if there's any resources that could help you. In my case, this was AQA. From there I have managed to find a variety of resources, such as past papers, which will allow me to practice writing exam responses, and exam reports, so i know what the examiners are looking for in said exam response.
Unfortunately I haven't been able to find and model answer examples on their site yet, but I will keep looking.
(The exam response linked to is the report from June 2012.)
Unfortunately I haven't been able to find and model answer examples on their site yet, but I will keep looking.
(The exam response linked to is the report from June 2012.)
|| Welcome Back ||
Hello again! As my A2 exam rapidly approaches for English Language, I have been asked to restart my blog again, in the hope that these revision notes will help me, and maybe some of my readers, to prepare for our exam.
From now on i'll be updating with notes, articles and lectures all to help me prepare.
From now on i'll be updating with notes, articles and lectures all to help me prepare.
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