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Increasing the odds: applying emergentist theory in language intervention.
1Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA. ghp110@psu.edu
Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools
|May 28, 2011
Summary
Emergentism, a theory of language development, posits that language arises from interactions between a child's environment and learning abilities. This framework supports interventions for developmental language delays by emphasizing input, engagement, and meaning mapping.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Linguistics
- Computational Neuroscience
Background:
- Language acquisition is a complex process influenced by multiple factors.
- Emergentism offers a theoretical perspective on how language abilities develop.
Purpose of the Study:
- Introduce emergentism as a leading theory of language development.
- Explore the theoretical rationale for using emergentism in interventions for developmental language delays.
Main Methods:
- Review of emergentist theory and research, focusing on early morphology and syntax.
- Description of connectionist modeling for developing and testing emergentist theory.
- Summary and application of key themes from connectionist and behavioral studies to language intervention.
Main Results:
- Identified three key emergentist themes relevant to language intervention: sufficiency of input, active child engagement, and mapping language form to meaning.
- Presented evidence supporting these themes in effective language interventions.
- Highlighted limitations in the current evidence base.
Conclusions:
- Evaluating theoretical foundations is crucial for evidence-based language interventions.
- Emergentism provides a valuable framework for understanding and improving language development interventions.
- Further research is needed to strengthen the evidence base for emergentist-informed interventions.
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