1. Language Development Stages Babbling
Sounds become increasingly matched to phonemes of native language
Reduction in ability to discriminate non-native phonemes
One-word stage
as a cat enters the room lat
Two-word stage
looking at mother and waiting as she says mama tickle
looking out the window at snow on the truck snow truck
Telegraphic state
referring to something that happened earlier in the day papa mow path (18 mo)
in car on the way to day-care mama work me school (19 mo)
Beyond telegraphic
being picked up at day care
Mama, I saw a bird today in that tree over near the playground. (23 mo)
when asked “Whose jacket is that?” replies “me’s jacket”
Critical/Sensitive Period
ends about the time puberty begins

2. How do children learn that a sound is a lexeme,
i.e., that it stands for a thing/concept?
If not conditioning, then what?
“Motherese” or “Infant Directed Speech”
involves using a higher-frequency voice
simple sentence structure
repetition of nouns corresponding to something in the environment
ALSO: gestures
Research Team 04 at Ithaca College
has been studying the role of gestures in early word learning

3. Research Team 04 Study
AIM: To determine the effect of gestures on infant word learning

4. Makes use of eye-tracking technology

5. Digital tapes are used so that all aspects can be manipulated
For example, the background or the type of gesture used

6. Results
Infants are most likely to look at the object as it is being names when synchronous, dynamic “show” gestures are used
Infants are more likely to look at the object being named during the comprehension test if it had been presented using a synchronous, dynamic “show” gesture