1. Thinking and Language

2. Language
Language: the expression of ideas through symbols (spoken/written/etc.) that are arranged according to rules
Three building blocks
Phonemes: the smallest basic sound units

3. Language Morphemes: smallest unit of meaning
Can be a letter (a), word (cat), prefix (un-), or suffix (-ly)
Grammar: the rules of a given language.
Semantic: the rules used to find meaning in a word/sentence/etc.
Ex. Semantics allows you to understand both of the following sentences: “A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Do you mind if I sit next to you?”
Syntax: the rules for putting together words into sentences in a given language.
A “white house” becomes un “casa blanca”

4. Language Development Babbling begins around 4 months.
By 10 months, babies’ babbling sound more closely reflects the language of the home.
The one-word stage begins around age 1.
May only be one word, but they use inflection to suggest further meaning.
The two-word stage begins around age 2.
Children tend to overgeneralize grammar rules (use them in incorrect ways)
Ex. “Daddy goed to the store”

5. Language (Nature/Nurture)
The major question (for a while) became whether or not there was a critical period for acquiring language
Learning a second language is much more difficult after the critical period of early childhood
Becoming deaf/gaining hearing (ala a cochlear implant) after about 5-6 makes learning the new language much more difficult
If we were more serious (as a society) about learning Spanish, French, etc., we’d push it in elementary school