Question 1

A typical 1 1/2-year-old child has a vocabulary of about 50 words. Which of the following is such a child least likely to do?

Accepted Answer

Linking several words together to form a sentence is a developmental milestone that is typically achieved between the ages of 2 and 3 years old. At 1 1/2 years old, a child's language abilities are still developing and they are more likely to repeat or say single words rather than forming sentences. Therefore, choice B is the least likely action for a child with a vocabulary of 50 words.

Question 2

Infants around age 6 months babble. To what extent is their babbling influenced by what they hear?

Accepted Answer

At first, infants' babbling is not influenced by the sounds they hear; it is a natural part of their development. As they grow older, they start to mimic the sounds and speech patterns they are exposed to, indicating the influence of their auditory environment on their speech development.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of "parentese?"

Accepted Answer

Parentese, also known as infant-directed speech, is characterized by a distinct prosody including a higher pitch, slower tempo, and exaggerated intonation, rather than simply using repetitive basic sounds like "goo-goo." Stimulating infant language areas involves more complex and varied speech patterns.

Question 4

It has been argued that children have a built-in mechanism for learning language that is called the

Accepted Answer

The term "language acquisition device" (LAD) was coined by linguist Noam Chomsky to describe a hypothetical innate mental structure that enables a child to learn grammatical rules and syntax of language. This theory suggests that children are born with a biologically based capability to learn language, which is supported by the observation that children across different cultures and languages generally follow similar patterns of language acquisition. Use of the term "linguine machinery" or "morpheme machine" is inaccurate and not supported by linguistic research. "Language hierarchy" is also not a recognized term in the study of language acquisition.

Question 5

The language errors of 2- to 3-year-old children reveal that the children

Accepted Answer

Research shows that 2- to 3-year-old children often make grammar errors that are consistent with their understanding of grammatical rules, even when exceptions should apply. This suggests that they are actively trying to apply rules they have learned, rather than just imitating what they hear.

Question 6

What is the typical age at which a baby says his or her first word?

Accepted Answer

The typical age at which a baby says their first word is around 1 year. It is rare for a baby to say their first word at 6 months, and highly unlikely at 1 month or 2 years.

Question 7

At what age do children begin to make creative, original sentences that they have not heard before?

Accepted Answer

Children begin to create original sentences almost as soon as they start forming sentences. This ability reflects their understanding of grammar and syntax, allowing them to experiment with words and structure to express new ideas.

Question 8

The rate at which children pass through the various stages of language development

Accepted Answer

The rate of language development in children is primarily influenced by maturation and remains relatively consistent across different cultures worldwide. This suggests that biological factors play a significant role in language acquisition, making it a universal process that unfolds in a similar manner regardless of cultural or environmental differences.

Question 9

Language is easily learned by humans because the human brain

Accepted Answer

The human brain has specialized areas for language, such as Broca's and Wernicke's areas. This makes it easier for humans to learn language. While the size and complexity of the human brain may be a factor, it is not the main reason why humans easily learn language. Learning simple words or processing sound energy earlier are not necessarily reasons why humans easily learn language.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT an important factor in human language capabilities?

Accepted Answer

Decreased connections among cortical areas would hinder language capabilities, rather than contribute to them. The other options (B, C, and D) are all important factors in human language capabilities. Broca's area and Wernicke's area are both specialized language areas in the brain, while the enormous expansion of the prefrontal cortex allows for higher-level thinking and decision-making involved in language use.

Question 11

Why is the word "Mama" used so universally?

Accepted Answer

The word "Mama" is used universally because "Muh" is one of the first sounds infants can naturally produce. This sound is easy for babies to make because it doesn't require precise control of the tongue and lips, making it a common foundation for words related to mother across various languages.

Question 12

Edgar suffers a stroke on the left side of his brain and as a result has a condition characterized by inarticulate speech and difficulties using and understanding grammatical devices. This condition is known as __________aphasia.

Accepted Answer

Broca's aphasia is characterized by difficulty in articulating speech and understanding grammatical structures, as well as non-fluent speech. It is caused by a stroke or injury to the left frontal lobe of the brain, specifically Broca's area, which is responsible for speech production. Wernicke's aphasia, on the other hand, is characterized by fluent but meaningless speech and difficulty understanding language, and is caused by damage to Wernicke's area in the left temporal lobe of the brain. Chomsky's and Pinker's are not types of aphasia, but rather refer to theories of language acquisition and grammar.

Question 13

The rate of progression through the stages of language ability

Accepted Answer

The answer of The rate of progression through the stages...

Question 14

The language acquisition device

Accepted Answer

The language acquisition device (LAD) is a theoretical construct created by linguist Noam Chomsky to explain the innate ability of humans to acquire language. According to Chomsky, the LAD is a built-in mechanism or module in the brain that allows children to learn and produce language without explicit instruction.

Question 15

Children with Williams syndrome are theoretically fascinating because many of them

Accepted Answer

Children with Williams syndrome typically have significant cognitive impairments, but show a relative strength in language abilities. This is due to a unique combination of genetic and brain factors associated with the syndrome.

Question 16

Edna suffers a stroke and is left with a condition characterized by difficulty recalling the names of objects and impaired comprehension of language. This condition is known as __________ aphasia.

Accepted Answer

Wernicke's aphasia is characterized by difficulty in understanding language and in recalling the names of objects, which matches the description given.

Question 17

A person who suffers from __________ may be mentally retarded but still able to produce language in a normal and skillful way.

Accepted Answer

Williams syndrome is a genetic disorder that can cause developmental delays and intellectual disability. However, individuals with Williams syndrome often have strong language abilities, including advanced vocabularies and excellent grammatical skills. This is in contrast to individuals with Broca's aphasia or Wernicke's aphasia, who may have difficulty producing or understanding language. Rett syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that primarily affects girls and can cause developmental delays and intellectual disability, as well as loss of motor skills and communication abilities.

Question 18

At about what age do most children start saying two-word phrases such as "more page"?

Accepted Answer

Most children start combining words into two-word phrases around the age of 2 years.

Question 19

One reason why "muh-muh" (or something similar) is the word for mother in so many languages is that

Accepted Answer

Infants typically begin babbling and making simple consonant-vowel sounds around 4-6 months of age, and "muh-muh" or similar sounds are among the easiest for them to produce. Additionally, these sounds may be reinforced by caregivers who respond positively to them and use them in reference to the infant's mother, leading to the word becoming established in the language. The other options (A, C, and D) are not as likely to be factors in the development of the word for mother in different languages.

Question 20

Which of the following is true of a child's language development?

Accepted Answer

By age 2 1/2 to 3 years, children are producing complex sentences and making errors that imply they are using grammatical rules (such as overgeneralizing the past tense "-ed" to irregular verbs). Immediate reinforcement for each correct statement is not necessary for normal language development, and while there may be some variation between societies, the stages of language development are generally consistent. While young children do copy phrases and sentences from others, they also demonstrate creativity and generativity in their language use.

Quiz 8: Cognition and Language