LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
requesting, etc)
- Study of the process through which humans
acquire language
- Language development has generated much
interest in several disciplines such as
Linguistics and Psychology particularly it
provices concrete answers to many
fundamental questions
Fundamental Questions:
Modularity Do children acquire language
by means of a specialized cognitive device
that is part of their genetic endowment or
languages emerge from our general cognitive
abilities learned from trial and error?
Human Uniqueness Do only humans
possess language
Language and Thought Is language simply
a tool for expressing our thought?
L1 acquisition acquisition of mother tongue
(infant), universal way of learning, patterned, with
learning order
L2 acquisition acquisition of language na hindi
mother tongue, no learning order
The linguistic genius of babies:
One of the main learning patterns of children:
analogy, generalization
Babies take statistics when learning a
language at 6 10 months
They need human beings or human contact in
order to learn a language
STAGES OF L1
0 -1 months crying (expressing anger and
discomfort)
2 4 months cooing (expressing
satisfaction / pleasure
4 9 months babbling,
9 18 months one word utterances, refers
to people and objects in babys life
10 months 2.5 yrs one word utterances,
the beginning of syntax, expanding to three
word utterances, allows for more
communicative functions (negating,
2.5 4 yrs telegraphic stage, expanded
syntax and vocabulary omit key grammatical
members and function words
STAGES OF L2 ACQUISITION
1. Entering level 1 silent period, minimal
comprehension
2. Preproduction nods, points
3. Emerging level 2- limited comprehension
4. Easy production - produce one / 2 words,
responses, participates using key word and
phrases
5. Developing level 3 & Speech emergence -
good comprehension, produce simple
sentences, makes grammar and
pronunciation errors
6. Expanding level 4 & Intermediate fluency -
Intermediate fluency excellent
comprehension, makes few grammatical
errors
7. Bridging level 5 & Advanced fluency
student near native level of speech
L1 ACUISITION
Innateness / Nativity Hypothesis
o precise form of language must be
acquired through exposure to ________
community
o words are definitely not inborn but
the capacity to acquire language and
use it creatively is seen to be inborn.
Chomsky calls this ability the LAD
(Language acquisition device)
o INNATENESS
Children begin L1 acquisition
almost at the same time
If the children had to actually
learn the abstract _____ of
language, then only the
smartest would ever learn
language
Children master the basic
phonological and grammatical
questions, in this L1 by age 5
 or 6 regardless of what SUCCESSIVE SIMULTANEOUS
language it is Learning 1 learning 2
Children can understand and language after languages as first
create _____ utterances, they learning another languages
All who become from no language
are not limited to repeating
bilinguals as to speaking 2
what they hear around them adults languages
There is a cut off age for L1
acquisition beyond which it
can never be acquired. COMPOUND COORDINATE SUBORDINATE
_______ of Stimulus 1 2 Weaker
o There is relatively limited data sema semanti language
ntic c interpreted
available to children learning a
syste systems through
language m, 2 ,2 the
o Children can only ever be presented lingui linguisti stronger
with positive evidence for these stic c codes language
particular patterns. For example, they codes 2
only hear others speaking using 2 languag
sentences that are right not those langu es
ages learned
that are wrong
learn in
Critical Period Hypothesis ed at distincti
o Exposure to language before puberty the vely
is necessary for language acquisition same separat
o Children with delayed exposure to time e
language: Feral children context
s
PREREQUISITES

Input both L1 and L2 ADDITIVE SUBTRACTIVE

Social Interaction L1 Learning a Learning a
second does not second language
TYPES OF BILINGUALISM interfere with the interferes with
learning of the the learning of
INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL first language the first language
As an individual As a social
attribute attribute
Psychological 2 languages are SESQUILINGUALISM
state of an used in a
individual who community and Speak or understand a scond language only
has access to 2 that a number of partially
language codes to individuals can Can be on an individual or collective level
serve use 2 languages It may be the result of contact or formal
communication learning or be inherent to languages being
purposes
closely related
A person may understand a language from
frequent exposure having then learned it to
some level, short of being able to speak it fully
All members of a language community are
able to understand each others language
even without fully speaking them
 RECEPTIVE BILINGUALISM

o Being able to understand 2 languages

but exposes oneself in only one
o This is generally not considered
bilingualism but is a common
situation
o Such speakers are equally common in
language shift communication

LANGUAGE LEARNING

PROFICIENCY

It is a matter of debate what level of

proficiency is neede before one claims to have
multilingual competence or to be known a
second language
How did you decide what to count as L2

MULTILINGUALISM

MTMBMLE in the Philippines

Learning in your mother tongue first is key to

success in school
o Bridge the gap between the culture at
home and the one at school as in
mainstream society. They not only
improve learning they also broaden
outlooks increase tolerances and
foster a respect for cultural diversity.
These programmes are also effective
in promoting a culture of building
equitable and inclusive societies