1. Language Development

2. Is there such a thing as “photographic memory”? How is eidetic memory different? What happens to eidetic memory as one grows older? What is the connection between eidetic memory and the development of language?

3. Infants & children face an especially important developmental task with the acquisition of language – “fine tunes” the brain!

4. You Try It! Let’s go back to kindergarten….

5. Innateness Theory of Language Noam Chomsky States children born with mental structures built into the brain making it possible to comprehend & produce speech Language Acquisition Device (LAD) makes it easier for children to discover patterns in language Human Genome project supports notion that language foundation is in part genetic Children worldwide proceed thru very similar stages of learning language w/ slight variations LAD = set of “listening rules”

6. In general, Most young children are both ready to acquire language & flexible about its final form & context Learning both basic grammar & vocabulary is major developmental language milestone Language development occurs both receptively (comprehending) and productively

7. How does it happen? Neonatal period (sound perception) 3 rd trimester = baby kicks/wiggles to music or loud noises Fetus heart rate will drop when mother speaks simple phrase W/in 96 hrs of birth, babies distinguish mother tongue from foreign language

8. How does it happen? Making sounds (6-10 mo’s) Babbling – babies make nearly all sounds heard in all languages Typically begins after 6 mo’s Analogous to putting a puzzle together over & over = children manipulate sounds w/syllables & intonation Phonemes: sound units Later becomes “jargon” or conversational babbling

9. How does it happen? Early stages One word stage (Holographic speech) 10-18 mo’s Tend to be concrete nouns/verbs Typically up to 2 phonemes (consonant-vowel pairs) Labels refer to whole classes of info (doggie for 4 legged animals) “mama”; “dada”; “baba”; “up” Two word stage to telegraphic speech 18-24 mo’s A “naming explosion” – rapid vocabulary development Beginnings of grammar (combining words into sentences) Morphemes: smallest units of meaning

10. How does it happen? Vocabulary & Grammar development 24-30 mo’s Command over 900 words Begin combining words (esp. nouns & verbs) to express thoughts & feelings using abstract rules no one has taught Syntax: word order & grammar Semantics: word meanings Overregularization/Overgeneralization – applying grammatical rule too widely; continues into elementary ages; inhibits development of using morphemes

11. How does it happen? By age 3, children should be forming complex sentences By age 4, almost all speech should be complex sentences By age 5, 2000 words should be mastered By age 6, vocab = 8000-14,000 words

12. RED FLAGS! Congenital or early-life problems Autism, hearing defects, brain lesions, social isolation Any lack of reaction to noisy items, calling of name, environmental sounds = concern Lack of babbling, presence of unclear speech, lack of words for almost everything, not being able to understand diff’s in meaning = concern Critical period exists