- Noam Chomsky FoxP2 - medical research which has identified DNA that is in charge of language. This DNA code enables us to develop language from birth.
- Deb Roy- ''the speech home project'', where Deb Roy recorded his son's speech every day, since the day he was born until he reached 2, to find out how the child's language changes. In order to do so, the parents converged their language to adapt to the certain development stage (when they child was using simple words the did to, however as the child started using more developed language the parents' language also became more complex). The experiment highlighted that child's semantic awareness outstrips their phonological ability.
- Stephen Pinker- found out that children say things they have never heard before, therefore they are born with an ability to speak.
- Jean Berko Gleason- developed a 'Wug test' which is a strong evidence that we are born with an ability to speak. Therefore, parents/care givers should provide children with different opportunities to speak in a different context, as it enables them for further language development.
- Language is a unique ability that defines us as humans.
- It is also a sophisticated skill, that children learn with minimal effort.
- If a child is exposed to two languages at the same time they will learn them both.
- At the very early stage of life, children are ale to communicate through the five senses (sight, touch, smell, hearing, taste) without using words
- At around 18 months a child learns about 10 words a day (this mostly includes: concrete nouns, proper nouns and common nouns)
- If a person develops language after puberty, they will never be able to fully acquire language
- Children at the age of 18 months will have a productive vocabulary of around 50 words
- We develop our language through: listening to others speaking, imitation and reinforcement (copy+ reproduce), play and using language with others in different contexts
Useful links:
http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/english/AQA-7701-7702-GLOSSARY.PDF - glossary of key terms
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qtnz/episodes/player -''Word of Mouth'' episodes
