PSY 302 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Language Proficiency, Eric Lenneberg, Language Acquisition
Document Summary
Semantic development (morphemes) learning of the meaning of words. Syntactic development (syntax) learning of grammar, and how words can be put together. Pragmatic development (how to use) what is efficient/effective way of expressing themselves. Metalinguistic knowledge (the general understanding of language) A human brain: species-specific and species-universal, brain-language, critical period. The key to language development is in the human brain: a species-specific behavior (only specific to humans, a species-universal behavior (whichever culture, country you are from language is universal) Brain-language relation: left hemisphere specialization, broca"s area (speech production) how you produce speech, wernicke"s area (speech comprehension) understanding other peoples speech. The critical-period hypothesis (lenneberg, 1967): most proficient at language learning before puberty: influences of early deprivation (e. g. , genie, wild child, effects of brain damage at different ages on language, language proficiency of second language acquired at different ages. Unlike other animals, humans are prewired to acquire language.
