Developmental psychology/Chapter 5/Linguistic Ability

Language in Early Childhood

Age	Achievement
2yrs	Vocab (V): 100-2k words Sentence Length (SL): 2-6 words Grammar (G): Plurals; pronouns; many nouns, verbs, adjectives Questions (Q): "What's that?"
3yrs	V: 1k-5k SL: 3-8 words G: +Conjunctions, adverbs, articles Q: "Why?"
4yrs	V: 3k-10k SL: 5-20 words G: +Dependent clauses, tags at the end of sentences like "wouldn't you?" Q: More "Why?" questions; "How?" and "When?"
6yrs+	V: 5k-30k SL: unending, using "and", "who", "that" G: complex, using passive voice and subjunctive Q: complex

Sensitivity

This child can absorb language like a sponge!

The reason why children can absorb language so well is because of...

• Brain maturation
• Myelination
• Scaffolding
• Social Interaction

The principle of egocentrism actually has a positive take in children's language learning: Since they only can interpret the world from their own viewpoint, they make mistakes in their language and are not harsh on themselves for it - leading to linguistic growth and learning.

Vocab Explosion

• Age 2: Knows 500 words avg.
• Age 5: Number of root words acquired: 2k-6k
• Age 6: Knows 10k+ words

Fast-mapping is the fast and potentially faulty way children learn new words by placing them into "mental categories", according to what they think the meaning is. Great demonstrations of fast-mapping are picture books and color names (what may be "red" may actually be a shade of brown). Another example is a child erraneously calling a crocodile an alligator and potentially resisting the correction (due to egocentrism) once corrected. Another form of fast-mapping is logical extension, where children use a newly acquired word to other objects within the same category.

Grammar

• Grammar: "structures, techniques, and rules that communicate meaning". Children start applying grammatical rules as soon as they start talking, as they'll gradually start to figure them out. By age 3, children learn that verbs can reflect either singular or plural (jump vs. jumps; are vs. is). Sometimes, children erraneously overapply grammatical ruling - this is known as overregularization. By age of 4, children show their knowledge of words by applying the s in front of words that don't need the s, such as "tooths".

Children's learning process dealing with grammar:

1. Say words correctly
2. Apply grammar
3. Assumption: All constructions [of the sentences] fits (when needed correction, correct with encouragement rather than criticism).

Children learn pragmatics - context of words with various word choices and tone. Once "theory of mind" is melted in the child, they're able to adjust their speaking to whatever audience.

Multi-language Learning

People that speak the minority language of a nation should study their nation's language, as it leads to poor life results later on. Before the age of 6, the brain can master two languages and have no poor effect on the cortex. A bilingual brain is a brain with a longer lifespan (plasticity) and can be a shield against Alzheimer. A child needs scaffolding in forms of hearing and speaking the two languages in order to learn them.

Which activities in early childhood helped their reading skills early on?

A study in China, 2010, found that vocabulary and phonics were a good predictor for literacy

1. Code-focused teaching - Connecting letters and sounds (B is for baby)
2. Book-reading - Adults read books to children
3. Parent-education - Well-educated parents are verbal and possess high vocabulary
4. Language enhancement - Mentors that know the child's ZPD to teach them new words
5. Pre-school programs - Children learn from teachers [early education = advanced language]