Language Development

1. Language Development Stages Babbling Sounds become increasingly matched to phonemes of native language Reduction in ability to discriminate non-native phonemes One-word stage as a cat enters the room lat Two-word stage looking at mother and waiting as she says mama tickle looking out the window at snow on the truck snow truck Telegraphic state referring to something that happened earlier in the day papa mow path (18 mo) in car on the way to day-care mama work me school (19 mo) Beyond telegraphic being picked up at day care Mama, I saw a bird today in that tree over near the playground. (23 mo) when asked “Whose jacket is that?” replies “me’s jacket” Critical/Sensitive Period ends about the time puberty begins

2. How do children learn that a sound is a lexeme, i.e., that it stands for a thing/concept? If not conditioning, then what? “Motherese” or “Infant Directed Speech” involves using a higher-frequency voice simple sentence structure repetition of nouns corresponding to something in the environment ALSO: gestures Research Team 04 at Ithaca College has been studying the role of gestures in early word learning

3. Research Team 04 Study AIM: To determine the effect of gestures on infant word learning

4. Makes use of eye-tracking technology

5. Digital tapes are used so that all aspects can be manipulated For example, the background or the type of gesture used

6. Results • Infants are most likely to look at the object as it is being names when synchronous, dynamic “show” gestures are used • Infants are more likely to look at the object being named during the comprehension test if it had been presented using a synchronous, dynamic “show” gesture