Language Development- An Introduction

Jane Messier Florida State University

Lets define language together.

 True or False? Language, speech and communication are the same cocept.
Be able to defend your answer!

SpeechHearingCommunication A spoken conversation involves language, hearing and speech

What does texting on your cell phones require?

SPEECH
Does speech depend on language? Does language depend on speech? Respiration Phonation Resonation Articulation Speech- result of planning and executing very specific motor sequences

phonemes:

Perceptual Target /m/ /a/ /m/ /a/

Motor Schema /ma/ /ma/

Speech Output /mama/ feedback

Turnbull & Justice p 11

HEARING aka AUDITION

Do you need hearing to have language?

Do you need hearing to have speech?

HEARING aka AUDITION

Acoustics: study of sound. Transmission and reception of sound involves 4 acoustic events:
1. Creation of sound source 2. Vibration of air particles 3. Reception by ear 4. Comprehension by brain

Speech Perception
Different from auditory perception Definition: Coarticulation-

Speech Perception
Creation of sound source Particles vibrate Frequency Intensity Reception by ear Outer Middle Inner Comprehension by brain

Communication
Process of exchange Requires sender and receiver
Involves encoding, transmitting and decoding the intended message

Communicative competence

Bubbler

Comprehension

Formulation Sender
Receiver Transmission/ reception **have a shared symbolic system

Huh?

4 Processes of Communication
FormulationTransmissionReceptionComprehension-

Communication
Collaborative Partners actively coordinate construction of the dialogue
Negotiating each others meanings

Purpose of Communication
InstrumentalRegulatoryInteractional PersonalHeuristicImaginativeInformative-

Major Domains of Language

FORM
SYNTAX MORPHOLOGY

CONTENT
S E M A N T I C S

USE
P R A G M A T I C S

PHONOLOGY

FORM

CONTENT

USE

FORM
How words, sentences, and sounds are organized and arranged to convey content 3 components:
Syntax Morphology Phonology

FORM

CONTENT

USE

Form- Syntax
Definition:
Children with language disorders:
complex sentences sentences with few conjoined or embedded phrases Delayed in forming wh- questions Shorter mean length of utterance (MLU)

Form- Morphology
Definition of morphology: MorphemeSchool (1 morpheme) Schools (2 morphemes) Preschools (3 morphemes)

Adds precision to our language

FORM

CONTENT

USE

FORM

CONTENT

USE

Morphology
Language disorder: Delays in morpheme acquisition Morphology associated with verbs (tense agreement) Delay in acquiring prefixes and suffixes

Form- Phonology
FORM CONTENT USE

Definition of phonology: Phonemes

26 letters in English, but 39 phonemes (depending on dialect)

Allophones Language Disorder Typical 2 year old tat for cat Atypical beginning sounds deleted at for cat

FORM

CONTENT

USE

Content- Semantics
Some words have 1 meaning (lady) Some words have multiple meanings (bat) Bent over backwards literal and figurative Language Disorder: -take longer to learn new words -poor vocabulary -difficulty using sentences to pull meaning of unknown words

 Can a sentence be semantically correct but not syntactically? Can a sentence be syntactically correct but not semantically?

Use - pragmatics
Social language Rules that govern:
Communication intention Conversation Social conventions
FORM CONTENT USE

Pragmatics will govern..

Paralinguistic Intonation, stress, emphasis, rate, pausing Word choice Turn taking

Nonlingustic- posture, gestures, facial expression, eye contact

Take out a piece of paper. Test yourself..

The major domains of language are: a. intent, use, and form b. organization, content, and use c. meaning, intent, and form d. content, form, and use

Semantics is synonymous with the domain of: a. Organization c. content b. Use d. form Manipulating words by adding prefixes or suffixes pertains to the domain of: a. Morphology c. phonics b. Phonology d. pragmatics

Remarkable Features of Language

Rate of acquisition Universality Species-specificity Semanticity/displacement Productivity Engine of thought

Differences versus Disorders

Differences- variability among language users 1) Dialects- natural variations of a language
Will effect form, content and use Related factors- race and ethnicity, situational/context, peer-group, SES, geography

Differences versus Disorders

2) Bilingualism Code switching Can learn language simultaneously or sequentially

Differences versus Disorders

3) Gender differences 4) Genetic predisposition 5) Language-Learning environment

Differences versus Disorders

Specific language impairment (SLI) Developmental disability Traumatic Brain Injury