1st Language Development

1st Language Development
Stages in first language
acquisition.
Language Acquisition Theory
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Noam Chomsky’s Theory
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Transformational Grammar
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Deep structure of our language
Language Acquisition Device (LAD)
 An instinct that enables language learning
 Imprinting & then dying off
Brain Development theory
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Multiple neuron firing in a child’s brain
Neural pathways start to establish at puberty
 Specialization of centers in the brain
Language Development
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Stage one
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First Words
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Nouns
Bilabial initial phonemes
Holophrases
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Overextension (ELL)
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One Word sentences (ELL)
Too specific a term for a general object
Underextension (ELL)
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Too general a term for a specific object
Language Development
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Stage Two
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First Sentences
Telegraphic Speech
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Two word sentences
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Usually Noun & Verb
 “Me go?”
Whole objects not parts
Mostly refers to “Type”
Language Development
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Stage Three
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Grammar Development
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Overregularizing (ELL)
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“I taked it!”
“Okay” = yes
Three, Four, & Five word sentences
Pronunciation improves greatly
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All vowels in the native language
All consonants in the native language
Language Development
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Stage Four
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Vocabulary Development
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6 yr. olds’ have 8,000 to 14,000
20,000 word vocabulary by age 11
Pre-school years are crucial
Early trouble with abstract terms
Early Trouble with communicative
competence
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Teasing, sarcasm, taunts, …

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