Exam 1 Study Guide- Theory and Research in Language Development
What does discontinuous development mean?
A child's understanding of the world changes qualitatively as they grow and develop. May have to change or relearn what we know based on experience.
What are methods of studying production?
BDAE Cookie Theft Project and the WUG Test
What are the methods of standardized tests for adults?
Boston diagnostic aphasia exam, western aphasia battery, and cognitive-linguistic quick test
What is an example of intensive study of individuals?
Charles Darwin gathered data on the development of babies specifically his child William. He anterm-18alyzed sneezing, hiccupping, yawning, stretching, suckling, screaming, and reaction to tickling.
What are examples of linguistic and social isolates?
Genie Wiley was locked up around 18 months with no social interaction at all until the age of 13 years old. She was able to acquire some pragmatic and syntactical language
What are Chomsky's beliefs on language development?
Language Acquisition Device: humans have in their minds a Universal Grammar that allows them to come to understand and produce any language they are exposed to.
What does continuous development mean?
Language development is continuously developing forward and improving. Once a child knows something, they understand it
What is classical conditioning?
Learning through association
What are some research designs to study language development?
Longitudinal and Cross-sectional
What are methods of studying comprehension?
Point to pictures (Peabody Picture Vocab Test) or act out ("show me" skip/jump/dance/etc)
What are the components of language?
Pragmatics, Lexicon/Semantics, Syntax, Morphology, Phonology
Pros and cons of using standardized tests
Pros: all can be administered at once, score is in the book, and more efficient. Cons: 3 year olds do not the tests, and does not show how language is used day to day.
Pros and cons of using Language sample analysis
Pros: combine a bunch of samples and Big Brother could put them in large group Cons: have to individualize each one take a long time
What is the WUG Test?
The usage of made-up words to test a child's ability to discover the underlying rules of language.
What is social interactionism and how does it fit Inside-out/Outside-in? (same as Piaget's constructivist)
a child uses his general cognitive skills to problem solve and construct meaning from his/her social interactions (outside-in)
What is operant conditioning?
a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher
What is more practical for large-scale normative: Language Sample Analysis or Standardized Test?
both could be argued for but for looking for language accuracy it would be LSA if looking for efficiency then standardized test
What is an inside-out theory?
brain has a set of tools specifically for language learning
What is an example of a large-scale normative study?
bunch of being tested (standardized possibly) and picking two age groups and comparing them
What are the methods of normative studies?
calculating mean length utterance, MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory (CDI),
Based on the ideas of generativists, is language development continuous or discontinuous?
continuous (because the idea is that if a child is placed in the correct environment language will be acquired effortlessly with direct instruction)
Based on the ideas of nativists, is language development continuous or discontinuous?
continuous (because the idea is that if a child is placed in the correct environment language will be acquired effortlessly with direct instruction)
Based on the ideas of behaviorists, is language development continuous or discontinuous?
continuous (belief that by observing language of others constant improvement will occur since it is straightforward)
Which research design has a larger sample size?
cross-sectional
What are examples of linguistic isolates?
deaf child in a home with haring parents who do not learn ASL orVictor of Aveyron who lived in the woods till 12 and knew no language he never learned more than a couple of words, but was not socially isolated because he was with the wolves
Based on the ideas of interactionists, is language development continuous or discontinuous?
discontinuous (if the child is not receiving input or isn't practicing language development could depreciate)
Based on the ideas of social interactionists, is language development continuous or discontinuous?
discontinuous (if the child is not socially interacting language development could depreciate)
Based on the ideas of emergentists, is language development continuous or discontinuous?
discontinuous (the biological helps it but without language input there is no improvement)
According to a nativist, language is acquired ___________, ______________, and ____________ ________ ___________________.
effortlessly, rapidly, and without direct instruction.
What are the types of studies to studies language development?
elicited production and comprehension, computer models, normative studies, speech sample analysis, and standardized tests
According to an interactionist, a lack of _______________, ____________ ____________, and _________ will prevent language learning.
experiences, adult input, and practice
What is elicited production?
expressive language, specifically how one uses language
What is comprehension?
how one learns language
What is lexicon/semantics?
knowledge of vocabulary
Nativists believe:
language "happens to a child when placed in an appropriate environment"
What are the types of special cases?
linguistic isolates and linguistic & social isolates
Which research design is longer/takes more time?
longitudinal
What are computer models?
look at how neurons fire while one produces language to determine what parts of the brain are activating.
What is nativism and how does it fit Inside-out/Outside-in?
nativism is the belief that language is innate ad happens to a child when placed in the appropriate environment that is why language is acquired by young children rapidly and effortlessly without direct instruction (fits the inside-out)
What are the 5 major inside-out and outside-in theories?
nativists, generativists, interactionist (and social interactionist), emergentists, behaviorists
What is a cross-sectional study?
observe a "slice of time" and compare groups which usually involve more participants. older vs. younger →need people with similar or matching backgrounds. typical vs. atypical → how slp's look at disorders
What is a longitudinal study?
observe the same individuals over an extended period of time which usually has fewer participants
What are the methods of standardized tests for kids?
preschool language scales, test of language development, comprehensive assessment of spoken language
What are the methods of speech sample analysis?
speech sample collection (digital recording of the speech, speechome big brother exp., LENA), transcription, and coding & analysis
What is emergentism and how does it fit Inside-out/Outside-in?
the belief that a child's biological organization interacts with input to learn the language, so without experience language is not learned (Inside-out)
What is behaviorism and how does it fit Inside-out/Outside-in?
the belief that humans and animals alike are taught to behave as a result of reinforcements or punishments from their environment and that language is a result of what we are taught by others.
What is generativism and how does it fit Inside-out/Outside-in?
the belief that language is inside the child and experience merely triggers innate categories and rules (fits the inside-out)
What is interactionism and how does it fit Inside-out/Outside-in??
the belief that language is learned through experiences, the input that the child receives from adults around them, and the 15-16 hours of practice and time spent learning language (fits the outside-in)
What are normative studies?
the goal of most research on language acquisition was to establish norms
What is communication?
the larger umbrella that involves the exchange of information between individuals
How is speech produced?
the neuromuscular coordinators of articulators move to produce specific sounds to communicate
What is syntax?
the order of words and how they are combined (grammar)
What is an outside-in theory?
the same set of tools used for all cognitive skills is used for language
What is morphology?
the smallest units of meaning
What is phonology?
the sounds of a language
What is language?
the systematic and conventional use of sounds (or signs or written symbols) for the purpose of communication or self-expression
True or False: Inside-out theory believes that learning language is domain-general.
true
What is pragmatics?
using language in socially appropriate ways
What is speech?
verbal means of communicating
