Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Language Development

Language Development

Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...

Language and Cognition

Language and Cognition

Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.

Components of Language

Components of Language

Language, whether spoken, signed, or written, consists of specific components: lexicon and grammar. The lexicon is the vocabulary of a language, comprising its words. Grammar is the set of rules used to convey meaning through the lexicon. For example, English grammar adds “-ed” to most verbs to indicate past tense. Words are formed by combining phonemes, which are the basic sound units of a language. Different languages have different sets of phonemes (e.g., “ah” vs.

Archival Research

Archival Research

Some researchers gain access to large amounts of data without interacting with a single research participant. Instead, they use existing records to answer various research questions. This type of research approach is known as archival research. Archival research relies on looking at past records or data sets to look for interesting patterns or relationships. For example, a researcher might access the academic records of all individuals who enrolled in college within the past ten years and...

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...

Language

Language

Language is a unique communication system that uses words and systematic rules to organize and transmit information. Unlike other forms of communication, which may involve postures, movements, odors, or vocalizations, language relies on symbols and grammar. This makes human communication distinct from that of other species, who also communicate but do not use language in the same way humans do.
Corballis and Suddendorf (2007) and Tomasello and Rakoczy (2003) highlight the role of language in...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Syntactic change in diachrony versus contact-induced change: two sides of the same coin?

The Linguistic review·2026

Same author

Editorial: Defining Construction: Insights Into the Emergence and Generation of Linguistic Representations.

Frontiers in psychology·2021

Same author

How Wide the Divide? - Theorizing 'Constructions' in Generative and Usage-Based Frameworks.

Frontiers in psychology·2021

Same author

Eliciting Big Data From Small, Young, or Non-standard Languages: 10 Experimental Challenges.

Frontiers in psychology·2019

Same author

Integrated, Not Isolated: Defining Typological Proximity in an Integrated Multilingual Architecture.

Frontiers in psychology·2018

Same author

On the Diversity of Linguistic Data and the Integration of the Language Sciences.

Frontiers in psychology·2017

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 24, 2025

Lexical Decision Task for Studying Written Word Recognition in Adults with and without Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment

Lexical Decision Task for Studying Written Word Recognition in Adults with and without Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment

Published on: June 25, 2019

Addressing Challenges in Formal Research on Moribund Heritage Languages: A Path Forward.

Roberta D'Alessandro¹, David Natvig², Michael T Putnam^3,4

¹Utrecht Institute of Linguistics, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.

Frontiers in Psychology

|August 16, 2021

Summary

Formal linguistic research on heritage languages, especially endangered ones, is crucial for understanding bilingualism across a lifetime. This essay clarifies the importance and methods of this vital research area.

Keywords:

heritage languages language description linguistic analysis moribund languages theoretical linguistics

More Related Videos

An Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Ageing on Sentence Processing

An Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Ageing on Sentence Processing

Published on: October 25, 2019

Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting

Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting

Published on: June 6, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 24, 2025

Lexical Decision Task for Studying Written Word Recognition in Adults with and without Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment

Lexical Decision Task for Studying Written Word Recognition in Adults with and without Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment

Published on: June 25, 2019

An Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Ageing on Sentence Processing

An Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Ageing on Sentence Processing

Published on: October 25, 2019

Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting

Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting

Published on: June 6, 2020

Area of Science:

Linguistics
Psycholinguistics
Sociolinguistics

Background:

Heritage language research has grown significantly in the last 30 years.
Increased experimental work in heritage languages often includes formal linguistic analysis.
Formal research on heritage languages, particularly moribund varieties, faces criticism due to methodological misunderstandings.

Purpose of the Study:

To clarify the motivation and significance of formal linguistic research on heritage languages.
To address criticisms by explaining the objectives and methodologies of this research.
To propose a path forward for continued inquiry in heritage language linguistics.

Main Methods:

Positional essay format.
Elucidation of research motivations and importance.
Discussion of formal linguistic methodologies applied to heritage languages.

Main Results:

The essay reaffirms the value of formal linguistic approaches to heritage languages.
It highlights the need for better understanding of the field's objectives and methods.
It advocates for continued rigorous research in this area.

Conclusions:

Formal linguistic research is essential for understanding bilingual grammar development in heritage speakers.
Addressing misunderstandings about methodology will foster greater acceptance and collaboration.
Continued formal inquiry will advance the field of heritage language linguistics.