syntax: the structure of language; how words are combined into meaningful sentences.

telegraphic speech - two word utterances, starts 18-20 months old

Ex: "No eat."

Nature vs Nurture debate appears in study of language development - but once again, both contribute separately AND interact with each other

Evidence of NATURE'S role:

* Universal language stages:

1) babbling (6 mos to 1 year)

2) one word utterances (1 to 1 ½ years)

3) two word phrases (around 18 to 20 mos) "telegraphic speech"

* Special brain areas:

Broca's area (on left frontal lobe) -- language production

Wernicke's area (on left temporal lobe) -- language comprehension

* Too much to learn

Evidence NURTURE'S role:

* Motherese (Parentese):

slower, simpler, shorter, more clearly enunciated, repetitive, higher voice

Tomasello and Farrar (1986): Parent and infant jointly attending,

largest vocabulary gains

*sensitivity to own language sounds

Does appear that we have special apparatus ("nature"), but we need the right key to unlock it ("nurture")

critical periods: "windows of time" in the development of an organism during which some particular development must occur:

If it's critical, the developmental change absolutely will not occur after that point.

e.g., puberty for language?

sensitive periods: periods when a developmental change is most efficient, effective, but change can occur outside the period.

e.g., puberty for learning a second language?

Questions to consider about "Genie"

1) Do you think Genie was born with some kind of brain damage (e.g., born retarded as her father claimed), or was it lack of normal interactions that stunted her ability to learn and speak?

2) How much of Genie's case was due to not learning language before a critical period, and how much was was due to severe abuse? Can you separate the two (e.g., does not talking to a kid constitute abuse?)

3) What are the ethical issues involved in Genie's case?

synchronicity: coordinated gazing, vocalizing and smiling

attachment -- bond between parents, especially mothers, and their babies; affectional ties between children and caregivers

Harlow's monkeys

Contact comfort

Is there a critical period for social contact?

stranger anxiety - wary, distressed reactions to people other than primary caregivers

social referencing -- following caregiver to interpret social situation

separation anxiety-- distress when infants are separated from their attachment figures

Infant attachment style - "Strange situation"

Secure attachment -- show distress when mother leaves, but seek her contact when she returns

Insecurely attached/avoidant --ignore mom upon her return

Insecurely attached/ambivalent (also "resistent") -- upset when mom leaves, and then cannot be comforted when she returns; but may seek her out.

Insecurely attached/disorganized (also "disoriented") -- confused upon mom's return, but not necessarily distressed,

Attachment style also raises nature (Baby's temperament) vs nurture (Parenting style) debates - and once again, seems to involve both.

Practice question:

Harlow's monkeys....

a. Preferred cloth covered "mothers" when they were scared

b. Preferred wire "mothers" that provided milk only when they were scared

c. Under most circumstances preferred wire "mothers" that provided milk

d. Showed normal behaviors as adults even if they only had a cloth "mother"