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Theories of language acquisition
1Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida.
Journal of Psycholinguistic Research
|November 8, 2013
Summary
This study traces language development from prelinguistic vocalizations to adult grammar, focusing on the child
Area of Science:
- Linguistics
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Early language development theories focused on imitation and differential reinforcement.
- Current research emphasizes innate grammar evolving over stages.
- Investigating child language acquisition requires independent analysis of their rules.
Purpose of the Study:
- Trace human vocalization development from prelinguistic to language stages.
- Analyze transitional phases in child language acquisition.
- Address challenges in explaining sound sequence rules for meaning-sound mapping.
Main Methods:
- Observational analysis of child vocalizations and early utterances.
- Descriptive approach to identify emergent grammatical rules.
- Comparative analysis of child language and adult models.
Main Results:
- Documented progression from vocalizations to recognizable language behavior.
- Identified stages in the child's grammatical development.
- Highlighted difficulties in accounting for sound-meaning rule acquisition.
Conclusions:
- Adequate theories of language ontogenesis must integrate cognitive development.
- Understanding language acquisition requires more than just adult language competence.
- Future theories need to explain the dynamic rule-discovery process in children.
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