Linguistics Final
Chapter 13 – First Language Acquisition
This chapter discusses how children acquire their first language naturally.
Key Concepts:
Language acquisition is fast, consistent, and occurs without formal teaching.
Children are biologically predisposed to acquire language.
Stages of Development:
Cooing (around 2 months): vowel-like sounds.
Babbling (around 6 months): repeated consonant-vowel sequences.
One-word stage (around 12 months): single meaningful words.
Two-word stage (around 18 months): simple combinations (e.g., “baby sleep”).
Telegraphic speech (around 2+ years): essential content words, no grammar (e.g., “want juice”).
Key Issues:
Imitation and correction are not primary drivers of language learning.
Children make errors like overgeneralization (e.g., “goed” instead of “went”).
They gradually develop morphology, syntax (questions, negatives), and semantics.
Chapter 14 – Second Language Acquisition/Learning
This chapter explores how people learn a second language and how it differs from first language acquisition.
Acquisition vs. Learning:
Acquisition: unconscious, through communication.
Learning: conscious, grammar-focused, often in classroom settings.
Barriers:
Age (critical period hypothesis: earlier is better).
Emotional factors: anxiety, motivation, self-confidence.
Teaching Methods:
Grammar–Translation: rule memorization, translation.
Audiolingual: repetition and drills.
Communicative Approach: focus on real communication.
Learner-Centered Concepts:
Transfer: influence from the first language.
Interlanguage: evolving learner language.
Input/Output: learners need meaningful input and practice.
Task-based learning: learning through real-life language tasks.
Communicative Competence:
Beyond grammar; includes sociolinguistic and strategic abilities.
Chapter 15 – Gestures and Sign Languages
This chapter analyzes how gestures and sign languages function alongside or instead of spoken language.
Types of Gestures:
Iconics: visually represent meaning.
Deictics: pointing gestures.
Beats: rhythmic hand movements for emphasis.
Types of Sign Languages:
Alternate sign languages: used in special contexts (e.g., monastic silence).
Primary sign languages: full languages used by Deaf communities (e.g., ASL).
American Sign Language (ASL):
A complete natural language with its own grammar, word order (e.g., adjectives after nouns), and variation.
Proven to be a real language through William Stokoe’s linguistic research.
Sign Structure:
Signs are made up of: handshape, orientation, location, movement, facial expression.
Includes finger-spelling and rich expressive capacity.