What is Language?

● a system of symbols and rules that enable us to

communicate

● a symbolic code used in communication

● the systematic, meaningful arrangement of symbols

‘The systematic, conventional use of sounds, signs, or written

symbols in a human society for communication and
self-expression.’
 How do humans acquire speech?
● We are not born speaking!
● Language must be acquired.
● If we think of all that is entailed in knowing a language, it seems quite a
challenge.

What does a baby hear? Children copy what they hear.

Children usually learn the sounds and vocabulary of their

native language through imitation.
● Grammar is seldom taught to them.

That they rapidly acquire

the ability to speak grammatically, supports the
theory of Noam CHOMSKY:
“Children are able to learn the grammar of a particular language because all
languages are founded on a deep structure of universal grammatical rules that
corresponds to an innate capacity of the human brain”.
 Language acquisition vs. language learning

Subconscious process during which we are

unaware of grammatical rules

The learner needs a source of natural communication. The

emphasis is on the text of the communication and not on
the form.

Language learning is not communicative.

It is the result of direct instruction in the rules of language.

It involves memorization of language rules

Learners have conscious knowledge of the new language and

can talk about that knowledge.
 Language Acquisition
Major Issues

First language acquisition

● How does our general intelligence interact with our

biological predispositions?

● How do we learn our native language? What are the stages

this process follows?

● How do failures in this process occur?

 It appears likely that no single theory contains the whole truth

But many theories have some grains of it.

Humans are prewired to acquire language

there must be some innate factors operating in natural language

There is good evidence for this:

because only humans acquire true
languages

We might tentatively posit innate constraints on:

1) conceptual structure;
2) phrase structure;
3) argument structure.
 vocabulary
Semantics Syntax
Phonology Rules morphology

Grammar
Imitation
st
Theories of 1 Language Acquisition Reinforcement
Analogy
The answer is
We are endowed with a Universal Grammar
information

The child progresses from simple rules to more complex rules

One-Word Stage

First Sentences

Later Sentences
 Innateness of language?
What evidence is there for innate knowledge of
certain basic language features present in all
human languages?

LINGUISTIC UNIVERSALS:

All languages have:

○ A grammar
○ Basic word order (in terms of SOV, etc.)
○ Nouns and verbs
○ Subjects and objects
○ Consonants and vowels
○ Absolute and implicational tendencies
E.g., If a language has VO order, then modifiers tend to follow the head.
 The Critical Period Hypothesis
Proposed by Lenneberg

It states that there is only a small window of time for a first

language to be natively acquired.

If a child is denied language input, he-she will not

acquire language

Normal hearing child born to deaf parents, heard

language only on TV, did not acquire English L1

The children's oral utterances were compared with what is known about
early utterances of children growing up in a hearing environment.

The children had poor vocabulary development, and compensated by frequent use
of the words “thing” and “there”. ..but, their cognitive development was normal.
 Reviewing Linguistic Stages

● 6-12 weeks: Cooing (googoo, gurgling, coocoo)

● 6 months: Babbling (baba, mama, dada)

● 8-9 months: Intonation patterns

● 1-1.5 years: One-word stage

● 2 years: Two-word stage

● 2.5 years: Telegraphic stage

● 3,4 – 11 years: Fluent speech /errors

● 12 years+: Fluent speech

 Lexicon

● Begin with simple lexical items for

people/food/toys/animals/body functions

● Lexical Achievement:

○ 1-2 years old 200-300 words

○ 3 years old 900 words
○ 4 years old 1500 words
○ 5 years old 2100 words
○ 6-7 years old 2500 words
○ High school grad 40,000 – 60,000 words!

● “5,000 per year, 13 words a day” --

 Native language
The incorrect application of previously learned 1st language material to a
present 1st language context

Children generally overgeneralize regular past-tense endings

Walked, opened Goed, writed

They often generalize the meaning of words

Calling dad to every men they see

ANIMALS:
dog
Cow, fish, cat, dog,
monkey

Animal !
…dog !