Language Development and Psycholinguistics
Psycholinguistics is the study of how language is learned, understood, and used. Language
Development is how children acquire and improve their language skills as they grow. Together,
these fields help us understand how children start speaking, listening, and understanding
language.
1. The Development of Child Language
Overview: From birth, children go through several stages to acquire language, each
building on the last.
Stages of Language Development:
o Pre-linguistic Stage (0-1 year): Babies make sounds, coo, and babble to practice
control over their voices.
o First Words Stage (1-2 years): Begin using words like "mama" or "milk" to
express their needs.
o Two-Word Stage (18-24 months): Combining words, e.g., "more milk" or "big
dog," to convey ideas.
o Early Sentences (2-3 years): Children start using simple sentences, often without
full grammar.
o Complex Sentences (3+ years): More advanced language, including grammar,
asking questions, and storytelling.
2. Phonological Development
Definition: Phonology is the study of sounds in a language.
Stages of Phonological Development:
o Babbling (6 months): Babies repeat sounds, experimenting with their voices,
e.g., "ba-ba" or "da-da."
o Simple Words (12 months): Use of basic sounds to form simple words.
o Sound Refinement (2-3 years): Sounds like "r," "s," and "th" can be challenging
and often develop last.
Key Points:
o Babies can hear and distinguish sounds before they start talking.
o Some sounds are easier to produce, like “b” and “m.”
o Phonological awareness, or the ability to recognize and work with sounds, is
essential for reading skills later.
3. Lexical and Semantic Development
Definition: Lexical development is about learning new words, while semantic
development is about understanding their meanings.
Stages of Lexical Development:
o Vocabulary Explosion (18 months - 2 years): Rapid learning of new words,
with up to 10-20 words learned each day.
o Understanding Word Meanings: Children begin to grasp that words have
specific meanings (semantics).
Stages of Semantic Development:
o Single Meanings: Each word has one meaning; for example, "ball" always means
a round object used for play.
o Multiple Meanings: By age four or five, children learn that some words have
multiple meanings, like “bat” (animal or sports tool).
Key Points:
o Children learn words through repetition, context, and interaction.
o Vocabulary knowledge is closely related to general cognitive development.
Comparison Chart: Key Areas of Language Development
Area Focus Examples Importance
Development of Growth of language Babbling, first Helps children communicate
Language abilities words, sentences thoughts and needs
Fundamental for clear
Phonological Sound production and “Mama,” “Dada,”
communication and later literacy
Development recognition “dog”
skills
Lexical Vocabulary Expands knowledge and
Learning new words
Development explosion language understanding
Semantic Understanding word Learning “bat” Essential for nuanced language
Development meanings (animal and object) use and comprehension
4. Psycholinguistics Perspectives on Language Development
Nature vs. Nurture Debate:
o Nature (Innate Ability): Noam Chomsky’s theory that humans are born with an
innate ability to learn language (Universal Grammar).
o Nurture (Environment): Behaviorist view (e.g., B.F. Skinner) that language is
learned through imitation and reinforcement.
Key Theories:
o Chomsky’s Theory: Language is a natural ability in the brain.
o Skinner’s Behaviorism: Language learned from the environment through
imitation.
5. Chart of Language Development Stages
Age
Stage Description Example
Range
Babbling and cooing, experimenting with
Pre-linguistic 0-1 year “Goo-goo,” “ba-ba”
sounds
Simple words to express needs and familiar
First Words 1-2 years “Mama,” “Milk”
people or objects
Two-Word 18-24 Combining two words for more complex “Big dog,” “More
Stage months meanings milk”
Early Short sentences, starting to use verbs and
2-3 years “I want cookie”
Sentences nouns together
Complex Full sentences, using questions, and “Can I have more
3+ years
Sentences expanding vocabulary significantly juice, please?”
6. Key Differences Between Phonological, Lexical, and Semantic Development
Phonological
Aspect Lexical Development Semantic Development
Development
Producing and Understanding word
Focus Learning new words
recognizing sounds meanings
Examples of Saying sounds like “b,” Learning “cat,” “apple,” Knowing “bat” has two
Skill “d,” and “m” “water” meanings
Essential for phonics and Knowing multiple meanings
Relation to Vocabulary growth aids
sound recognition in helps in understanding
Reading reading comprehension
reading complex texts
Summary
Understanding language development in children involves examining:
1. The stages (babbling to complex sentences),
2. Phonological skills (sound production and recognition),
3. Lexical knowledge (vocabulary growth), and
4. Semantic understanding (meanings of words).
These areas interact and build on each other to help children communicate effectively.
