Language Development
Language Development is the process by which humans acquire the capacity to perceive and comprehend language, as well as to produce and use words and sentences to communicate. This development occurs from infancy through adulthood and involves several stages:
Pre-linguistic Stage
- Babbling: Babies begin to babble, producing sounds like "ba-ba" or "ga-ga" around 6 months of age, which is a crucial step in Phonological Development.
- Gestural Communication: Infants use gestures to communicate before they can speak, pointing or waving to express needs or desires.
One-Word Stage
At around 12 to 18 months, children start using single words to express whole thoughts. These are often referred to as "holophrases."
Two-Word Stage
By 18 to 24 months, children begin combining two words to form simple sentences, known as telegraphic speech, like "more juice" or "mama go."
Multi-word Stage
As children approach 3 years, they start forming more complex sentences, mastering basic grammar rules, and expanding their vocabulary.
School Age and Beyond
- Grammar and Syntax: Children continue to refine their understanding of complex grammatical structures.
- Pragmatics: They learn social uses of language, how to take turns in conversation, and how to adapt speech for different contexts.
- Metalinguistic Awareness: This involves understanding language as an object of thought, which develops further in later childhood and adolescence.
History and Context
The study of Language Development has roots in various disciplines:
- Psycholinguistics: Investigates the psychological processes involved in language acquisition.
- Developmental Psychology: Looks at how cognitive and social development influences language learning.
- Linguistics: Studies language structure and its influence on acquisition.
Notable theories include:
- Innatism (Chomsky): Proposes that humans are born with an innate capacity for language acquisition known as the Language Acquisition Device.
- Behaviorism (Skinner): Suggests language is learned through reinforcement and conditioning.
- Social Interactionist Theory (Vygotsky): Emphasizes the role of social interaction and scaffolding in language development.
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