Question 1

Which of the following best summarizes the research evidence regarding the acquisition of a first language?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following best summarizes the...

Question 2

How does the babbling of children in families using only sign language differ from the babbling of children in families that use spoken language?

Accepted Answer

The babbling of children in families using only sign language is manual and characteristic of signing. This is because these children are learning communication through sign language, rather than verbal language.

Question 3

What is suggested by the fact that coos sound the same,regardless of whether or not the infant can hear?

Accepted Answer

The fact that coos sound the same regardless of whether or not the infant can hear suggests that they are not learned through experience. Instead, they are likely a reflexive response related to the maturation of the infant's brain and vocal organs, which are responsible for producing the sounds.

Question 4

Caretakers will often respond to their infant's vocalizations and smiles with similar behaviours.What is the function of such interchanges?

Accepted Answer

These interchanges serve a function of teaching the infant the pattern of turn-taking in conversation, which is an important foundation for language development.

Question 5

You are in an airport and hear three 9-month-old babies babbling,each from a different racial/ethnic background.Based on current research evidence will the babbling of these babies be different?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that babbling patterns of infants can be influenced by their native language and culture. Infants start babbling with the sounds they hear in their environment, and by 9 months of age, they begin to produce sounds specific to their native language. Therefore, the babbling of the three 9-month-old babies from different racial/ethnic backgrounds will likely sound different, reflecting the phonetic and prosodic features of their respective languages.

Question 6

Larissa is babysitting her 3-month-old nephew.She is trying to interest him in one of his toys,but he keeps looking away from her.Based on the results from Fernald's research,how should Larissa speak to him to recapture his attention?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Larissa is babysitting her 3-month-old nephew.She is...

Question 7

Infant babbling often sounds as if the child has learned the "tune" before the words.What aspect of language is being referred to by the word "tune"?

Accepted Answer

The word "tune" refers to the intonation, or the rise and fall of pitch in speech, which often has a rhythm or "melody" to it. This is different from syntax (the rules for arranging words) and semantics (the meaning of words and sentences). Pragmatics refers to the context and social rules surrounding language use.

Question 8

Suppose the mother of a young infant claimed that she could keep her baby in a happy mood just by maintaining one kind of rhythmic intonation.Based upon research evidence,how likely is this mother's claim?

Accepted Answer

Infants demonstrate the ability to discriminate between different intonational patterns from a very early age, suggesting they can recognize that these patterns carry different meanings. This ability can influence their mood and responses to the caregiver's speech.

Question 9

When do infants first show a preference for the sound pattern of the language that their mother speaks?

Accepted Answer

Infants first show a preference for the sound pattern of the language that their mother speaks within a few days of birth. This is demonstrated by their ability to distinguish between their native language and other languages based on sound patterns.

Question 10

Jerome's 4-month-old daughter was upset and fussy,but after listening to her father talk to her for a few minutes she is now calm.Based on the results from Fernald's research,how did Jerome speak to her?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Jerome's 4-month-old daughter was upset and fussy,but...

Question 11

When do infants first show a preference for speech that contains natural breaks and pauses?

Accepted Answer

Research has found that infants as young as 7 months of age show a preference for speech that contains natural breaks and pauses, such as those found in infant-directed speech. At this age, infants are beginning to focus more on the rhythm and structure of speech, and are able to distinguish between different types of speech patterns.

Question 12

According to the textbook,which view of language acquisition is most supported by research evidence?

Accepted Answer

The interactionist perspective, which combines elements of both nativist and learning theories, is the most supported by research evidence. This perspective acknowledges the role of innate language ability, but also recognizes the importance of social interaction and environmental influence in language acquisition.

Question 13

At what age do most typically developing infants begin to babble?

Accepted Answer

Babbling typically begins between the ages of 4 and 6 months for most typically developing infants.

Question 14

What does the neonates' ability to discriminate speech sounds and to recognize their mothers' voices imply about their language capabilities?

Accepted Answer

The neonates' ability to discriminate speech sounds and recognize their mothers' voices implies that they have innate capabilities needed to begin the language learning process. This supports the idea of an innate language acquisition device (LAD) proposed by Chomsky. However, it does not necessarily mean that they will begin babbling within the first few days after birth, and they may not be using intonation as the basis for sound discrimination at this early stage.

Question 15

Which of the following observations supports the view that prelinguistic vocalizations are heavily influenced by maturation of the brain and the muscles controlling verbal articulation?

Accepted Answer

The observation that all infants vocalize in a similar fashion during the first six months after birth supports the view that prelinguistic vocalizations are heavily influenced by maturation of the brain and the muscles controlling verbal articulation. This suggests that the development of vocalization is guided by innate biological factors rather than environmental factors such as exposure to language or social cues.

Question 16

What is cooing?

Accepted Answer

Cooing is the stage of language development in infants where they produce combinations of vowel sounds.

Question 17

Which of the following has been found to be essential,and sufficient,if the acquisition of syntax is to proceed normally?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following has been found...

Question 18

Stephan's parents are very articulate and provide an environment that is rich in verbal stimuli.Stephan's mother states that because of this environment,he began to use telegraphic speech when he was only 6 months old.Would a developmentalist accept the mother's statement as plausible?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Stephan's parents are very articulate and provide...

Question 19

What does evidence indicate about the timing of language turn-taking?

Accepted Answer

Evidence suggests that language turn-taking is acquired over the first year of life, as infants gradually become more adept at taking turns in vocal interactions with others. Studies have shown that even young infants demonstrate proto-conversations, such as cooing and responding to adult vocalizations, and that they progressively become better at anticipating and taking turns in conversation as they develop.

Question 20

Babbling refers to which type of vocalization?

Accepted Answer

Babbling refers to the consonant and vowel combinations that babies use when they are learning to speak.

Quiz 11: Development of Language and Communication Skills