Language-Learning-in-Early-Childhood---uni-bielefe

LanguageLearninginEarlyChildhoodExplainingfirstlanguageacquisitionOverviewThebehaviouristperspectiveTheinnatistperspectiveThecriticalPeriodHypothesis(CPH)Interactionist/developmentalperspectiveThebehaviouristperspectiveThebehaviouristperspective→SaywhatIsay1940sand1950sBehaviourism:imitatingandpractising→importancetotheenvironmentThebehaviouristperspective→SaywhatIsayimitationandpracticeastheprimaryprocessesinlanguagedevelopmentImitationPractiseChildrenimitateselectivelyThebehaviouristperspective→SaywhatIsayPatternsinlanguageUnfamiliarformulasQuestionformationOrderofeventsTheinnatistperspectiveTheinnatistperspectiveNoamChomsky:LanguagesareinnateChildrenarebiologicallyprogrammedforlanguage→TheydonothavetobetaughtDifferencetobehavioristperspectiveChildrenknowmoreaboutstructureoflanguagethantheycouldbeexpectedtolearnTheirmindsarenotblankslatestobefilledBUT:innateabilitytodiscoverunderlyingrulesoflanguagesystemUniversalGrammar(UG)HumanbraincontainsalimitedsetofrulesfororganizinglanguageAssumptionthatalllanguageshaveacommonstructuralbasisNowronghypothesisofhowalanguagesystemmightworkOnlyhavetolearnhowlanguagemakesuseoftheUGExampleJohnsawhimself.*HimselfsawJohn.LookingafterhimselfboresJohn.CouldnotbelearnedsimplybyimitatingandpracticingsentencesTheremustbeaninnatemechanism!TheCriticalPeriodHypothesisThecriticalperiodhypothesisParticulartime(criticalperiod)tolearncertainknowledgeorskillsGeneticallyprogrammedProveinhistory:VictorGenieCPH:Victor1799:12yearoldboyfoundinthewoodsofFrance→feralchildJean-Marc-GaspardItard(doctor)workedwithhimfor5yearsProgressinmostareasbutnotinlanguageCPH:Genie13yearoldgirlfromCaliforniaIsolated,neglectedandabusedbyherparentsWastiedtoachairfor11yearsanddeprivedfromlanguage1977:startedtobeeducatedandcaredforSocial,cognitiveprogressbutnotinlanguageThecriticalperiodhypothesisStillnotenoughproveforCPHResearchwithdeafchildrenwhoareborntohearingparents→lateaccesstolanguage5–10%ofdeafchildrenareborntodeafparents1990:ElissaNewport’sresearchwithdeafchildrenCPH:ElissaNewport’sresearchASL(signlanguage)makesuseofgrammaticalmarkersComparisonofthreegroupsNativesigners(childrenwholearnedASLfrombirth)Earlylearners(learnedASLbetween4and6yearsofage)Latelearners(learnedASLaftertheageof12)CPH:Newport’sresultsNodifferenceinsomeaspectsoftheiruseofASLBUTNativesignersweremoreconsistentwithgrammaticalmarkersthanearlylearnersEarlylearnersweremoreconsistentwithgrammaticalmarkersthanlatelearnersProveforCPHwhetherlanguageisoralorgesturalInteractionist/developmentalperspectiveInteractionist/developmentalperspectivesOverviewlearningfrominsideandout→innatelearningabilityandinteractionwithenvironment:powerfullearningmechanisminthebrainlearningfromexperienceconnectionbetweencognitivedevelopmentandlanguageacquisitionJeanPiagetdevelopmentofchildren’scognitiveunderstanding:objectpermanencestabilityofquantitieslogicalinferencinglanguage=symbolsystemdevelopinginchildhoodandexpressingchildren’sknowledgeLevVygotskylanguagedevelopsmainlyfromsocialinteraction“zoneofproximaldevelopment”→highlevelofknowledgeandperformancelanguage=thought→internalizedspeech;speech→resultsfromsocialinteractionTheimportanceofinteractiondirectaccesstolanguagerepetitionsandparaphrasesofadultsfeelingofbeingunderstoodthroughadults’responseConnectionismlanguagelearning=learningingenerallanguageacquisition=associationofwordsandphraseswithobjectsandsituationsQuestionWhatdoyouthinkaboutthesedifferenttheories?Dotheyallworktogetheroristhereonlyonethatisright?Thankyouforyourattention!