1. The document discusses the typical stages of first language acquisition in children from 0-30 months. These stages include pretalking, babbling, holophrastic, two-word, and telegraphic stages. 2. It also covers several theories of language learning including the audio-lingual method, information processing theory, Chomsky's theory of Universal Grammar and the Language Acquisition Device, Piaget's theory on cognitive development and language, and Vygotsky's sociocultural theory. 3. Key language learning theories discussed are Krashen's Input Hypothesis, Chomsky's theory of Universal Grammar, Piaget's view of language development depending on cognitive development, and Vygotsky's

1. EDUC. 564 Applied Linguistics
Dr. Philip Murray Finley

3.  Similar among children all over the world
(predicable patterns in the L1 development)
1.Pretalking Stage (0-6 months) :
crying, cooing, grunts, laughter
 Example: http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kuOt4kZUn0
2.Babbling (6-8
 yells, squeals, repeated consonant + vowel sequences
(bababa, nanana)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJzVZvMPkAI

4. 3. Holophrastic (9-18 months) :
 one word communication
 Example: “up!” (pick me up) http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2EertzeHjM
4. Two word (18-24 months)
 “mini-sentences" with simple semantic relations
 Example: “Mommy work” (Mommy is at work)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJzVZvMPkAI

5. 5. Telegraphic Stage (24- 30 months)
early multiword stage
 Example: http
://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrRKLHq25UA
6. Later Multiword Stage
age 5 - utterances 4.6 words per sentence
age 6 - about 13,000 words.
age 8 -about 28,300 words

6. Audio lingual
Method
Information
Processing
Stephen Krashen’s
Hypothesis

8. Language learning is the result of 1)
imitation (word-for-word repetition), 2)
practice (repetitive manipulation of
form), 3) feedback on success
(positive reinforcement), and 4) habit
formation.

9.  Goal- acquisition of structures and patterns in
dialogue
 Characteristics:
◦ Drills are used to teach structural patterns
◦ Set phrases are memorized with a focus on intonation
◦ Grammatical explanations are kept to a minimum
◦ Vocabulary is taught in context
◦ Audio-visual aids are used
◦ Focus is on pronunciation
◦ Correct responses are positively reinforced immediately

11.  Chomsky  language acquisition is an innate
structure of the human brain
◦ Environment contributes
◦ Language Acquisition Device –LAD (neurological
wiring)
 allows a child to listen to a language  decipher the
rules  create with the language
 Universal grammar- principles which are universal to
all human languages
Brain-the basic structures to learn any language
contains

12.  Piaget  Language is dependent
upon cognitive development.
◦ “children’s cognitive development determines their
language development”
 Vygotsky  Language develops primarily
from social interaction
o Zone of proximal development (ZPD): a supportive
interactive environment permits children to reach a
higher level of knowledge than s/he would be able to
do independently

15.  Information processing theories focus on how
people:

◦ attend to environmental events
◦ encode information to be learned and relate
it to knowledge in memory
◦ store new knowledge in memory
◦ retrieve it as needed

16. retrievalencoding
attention
sensory
input
responses

17. HypothesisHypothesis

18.  Language Learning in Early Childhood
◦ www2.nkfust.edu.tw/.../SLA/ppt/1_Learning_a_First_Language
_new.ppt
 Module 5 Lesson 5.3 First Language Acquisition
◦ http://
emedia.leeward.hawaii.edu/hurley/Ling102web/mod5_Llearnin
 Escamilla, Kathy & Grassi, Elizabeth. A Brief
Description of Second Language Acquisition
(2000).
◦ http://
www.wce.wwu.edu/Resources/CIRCLE/Articles/SLA
%20Escamilla%2BGrassi.pdf