Psychology

Psychology

1. Briefly outline the major milestones in language acquisition. Be sure to discuss the critical period hypothesis and what the case of “Genie” revealed about language acquisition.

In the language acquisition and development, the major milestones generally reached are within the four major area of the development of language. They include the semantics, pragmatics, phonology, and syntax. Between the ages of 0-8 months, the semantics and pragmatics start developing where the child begins with the perlocutionary stage. They follow the moving people with their eyes, smile when they hear or see others smiling and react to the loud sounds. Thus, they respond with their actions. Between 8-12 months, the children are their illocutionary stage where they express themselves with vocalization and gestures. They shout to get attraction and respond to the commands. Phonology begins in the form of jargon babbles and some broken words. The period between 12-18 months is the locutionary phase in which the child starts expressing words instead of gestures only (Glennen & Masters, 2002). Syntax appears in the form of mostly nouns. Thus, all over life the milestones with respect to these four domains are reached and enhanced.

The concept of critical period hypothesis pertains to the long-standing debate in the subject of language acquisition and linguistics to the extent of the ability that is required to acquire the language and its biological connection with the individual's age. According to the hypothesis, there is an ideal "window" of time for the language acquisition in such an environment that is linguistically rich, and after which the language acquisition any further becomes more effortful and difficult. It is stated by the critical period hypothesis that it is the vital and crucial time period in the first few years of life which helps individual in the acquisition of first language if sufficient stimuli are present (Bingers, Planken, Schils, 1995).

The case of Genie provided the event in terms of the language acquisition. Genie, here, refers to the pseudonym for a feral child who has been the subject of the most severe cases of neglect and abuse that have ever been documented in the history. Genie had spent the most part of the fist fourteen years of life bound inside a crib with immobilized legs and arms, locked inside a bedroom, or were strapped to the toilet by her schizophrenic father. The evidences have been revealed by the tragic case of Genie which suggests that the acquisition of language is likely to be restricted to a critical period (Krashen, Stephen, 1973). These periods pertains to the lateralization and brain plasticity referring to the adjustments and flexibility of brain in learning several different functions. It is believed by the scientists that the first language acquisition completes in the critical period between 4 and 12 years of age. Later, the plasticity of brains apparently loses in terms of learning language. Genie, unfortunately, did not acquire language and was not exposed to it during the critical period. Since no one spoke to her, she was unfamiliar ...