This critical essay investigates the acquisition of phonology. It is amazing how rapidly children develop in the first years of their lives. The acquisition of their mother tongue is especially fascinating because it is such a complex process. Not only the linguistic code has to be fully acquired but also all its rules and norms. That is, apart from the language’s phonology, morphology, syntax, lexis and semantics, – constituting the code of every language –pragmatic rules are also important for the daily use and the full dominance of a language. This essay focuses on the most basic field, phonology, and explains how a child acquires the target language’s phonology. Although the stages of the acquisition process are described generally since they are universal and hold true for all children independently of their mother tongue, the attention is on the English phonology in particular. First language acquisition in general is an important topic, not only for linguists. To have knowledge about it also helps the parents to raise children, especially in bilingual situations. I, myself, consider it very useful to write about such a topic as one can learn to understand what and how many stages and steps are actually involved. If we know how it works, perhaps we may also understand why children initially make errors or quite unusual utterances or even extraordinary sounds (in the pre-language stages) while acquiring the native language. The essay will provide information about the whole acquisition process. However, the main focus will be on the first four to six years.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- I. Introduction
- II. Acquisition of phonology
- II.1. Definitions
- II.2. Prerequisites to the acquisition of a language's phonology
- II.3. Infant speech perception
- II.4. The sound laws of child language
- II.5. Pre-language stage: cooing and babbling
- II.6. Development: From early speech production onwards
- II.7. In detail: Speech production
- II.7.1. Building a system of contrasts
- II.7.2. Phonological processes
- II.8. The importance of stressed syllables in production
- II.9. Baby talk
- III. Markedness
- III.1. About markedness: Definitions and approaches
- III.2. Features of markedness
- III.3. Phonological markedness: values and markedness reversals
- III.4. Markedness and language acquisition
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay aims to investigate the acquisition of phonology in children, focusing on the process from birth to the first four to six years. It explores the stages of phonological development, highlighting universal patterns and processes. The essay also examines the role of speech perception, sound laws, and markedness in the acquisition process. * The stages of phonological acquisition in children. * Universal sound laws and patterns in child language. * The role of speech perception in phonological development. * The concept of markedness and its application to language acquisition. * The influence of factors such as stressed syllables and baby talk.Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
I. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the essay by emphasizing the remarkable speed of language acquisition in young children and the complexity involved in mastering not only the phonological aspects but also the morphological, syntactic, lexical, semantic, and pragmatic components of language. The author highlights the universal nature of the acquisition process while focusing specifically on English phonology, underscoring the practical significance of this research for linguists and parents alike, particularly in bilingual contexts. The chapter concludes by outlining the essay's structure and focus on the rapid development and common errors occurring in the first four to six years of a child's life, suggesting that these errors provide insights into language acquisition and loss. II. Acquisition of phonology: This chapter provides a detailed chronological account of phonological acquisition, beginning with fundamental definitions of phonetic and phonological terms (II.1), clarifying the complexity involved in sound production for young children. It continues by outlining prerequisites for language acquisition (II.2), the role of infant speech perception in discerning phonemic contrasts (II.3), and the application of universal sound laws (II.4). The pre-language stages of cooing and babbling (II.5) and the subsequent development of early speech production (II.6), including the formation of phonemic contrasts (II.7.1) and common phonological processes (II.7.2), are extensively explored. The chapter concludes by analyzing the importance of stressed syllables in word learning (II.8) and discussing the phenomenon of baby talk (II.9) which is used when adults address infants. III. Markedness: This chapter delves into the concept of markedness, presenting definitions and various approaches (III.1). It moves beyond the traditional understanding of phonemes as the smallest distinctive units by explaining their subdivision into features (III.2), employing Jakobson and Halle's feature system, and examining their markedness values (III.3). The chapter culminates in a discussion of the connection between markedness and language acquisition (III.4), analyzing prominent developmental phenomena through the lens of markedness features and values. The chapter provides insight into the linguistic theory of markedness and its role in understanding language development.Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Phonology acquisition, child language, speech perception, sound laws, markedness, phonological processes, babbling, speech production, first language acquisition, English phonology, developmental errors.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the overall topic of this language preview?
This preview covers the acquisition of phonology in children, specifically focusing on the processes involved from birth to the first four to six years of life. It examines the stages of development, universal patterns, and the roles of speech perception, sound laws, and markedness in this process.
What are the main stages of phonological acquisition discussed?
The preview details a chronological account of phonological acquisition, starting with definitions of phonetic and phonological terms, prerequisites for language acquisition, and the role of infant speech perception. It progresses through the pre-language stages (cooing and babbling), the development of early speech production (including the formation of phonemic contrasts and common phonological processes), and the influence of stressed syllables and baby talk.
What is the significance of speech perception in phonological development?
The preview highlights the crucial role of infant speech perception in discerning phonemic contrasts and understanding the sounds of the language being acquired. The ability to perceive these differences is fundamental to the development of a child's phonological system.
What are "sound laws" in the context of child language acquisition?
The preview refers to universal sound laws or patterns that are common across different languages in how children acquire phonology. These patterns represent predictable changes or simplifications that children make in their pronunciation.
What is the concept of "markedness" and how does it relate to language acquisition?
The preview explains markedness as a linguistic concept that describes the relative complexity or rarity of certain sounds or features. It explores how the markedness of sounds influences their acquisition, with less marked (more common) sounds typically being acquired earlier than more marked (less common) sounds.
What are some key phonological processes discussed in the preview?
The preview explores common phonological processes children use, which are systematic simplifications of adult speech. Examples include processes related to sound substitutions, assimilations, and syllable structure adjustments.
What is the role of stressed syllables and "baby talk" in language acquisition?
The preview investigates the importance of stressed syllables in word learning, suggesting that children often focus on stressed syllables first. It also discusses the phenomenon of "baby talk" (parentese or child-directed speech) and its potential influence on language acquisition.
What are the key takeaways from the chapter on markedness?
The chapter on markedness provides insight into the linguistic theory of markedness and how it relates to language development. It shows how the markedness of sounds and features can predict the order of acquisition and explain some common developmental errors.
What are the chapter summaries about?
The chapter summaries provide concise overviews of each section of the preview. The introduction sets the context, the phonology acquisition chapter details the developmental stages, and the markedness chapter focuses on the theoretical framework.
What are the keywords associated with this language preview?
Keywords include phonology acquisition, child language, speech perception, sound laws, markedness, phonological processes, babbling, speech production, first language acquisition, English phonology, and developmental errors.
- Citation du texte
- Sarah Schmidt (Auteur), 2008, The acquisition of phonology, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/116203
