This document discusses language learning in early childhood. It defines key terms like first language (L1), second language (L2), foreign language (FL), and target language (TL). It then outlines typical stages and patterns in first language development from babbling to using multi-word sentences. These stages include single words, two word sentences, and gaining a vocabulary of over 10,000 words by age five. The document also compares language acquisition versus learning.

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Language Learning in Early
Childhood
 Definitions of L1, L2, FL, TL
 Patterns and sequences in L1 development
Language Acquisition
First Lecture
By: Ms.Hajar ALmaa

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Definitions of L1 & L2
 Definition of “first language” (L1):
 The language(s) that an individual learns first.
 Other terms for “first language”-
• Native language or mother tongue
 Definition of “second language” (L2):
 Any language other than the first language learned (in
a broader sense).
 A language learned after the first language in a context
where the language is used widely in the speech
community (in a narrower sense).
• e.g., For many people in Taiwan, their L1 is
Taiwanese and L2 is Mandarin.

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Definitions of FL & TL
 Definition of “foreign language” (FL)
 A second (or third, or fourth) language learned in a
context where the language is NOT widely used in the
speech community. This is often contrasted with
second language learning in a narrower sense.
e.g., English or Japanese is a foreign language for
people in Taiwan.
 Definition of “target language” (TL)
 A language which is being learned, where it is the first
language or a second, third language.
e.g., English is a target language for you now.

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Acquisition and Learning :
Acquisition :
 Refers to developing language use through communicative
situations with others who know the language .
Learning : is a more conscious process of accumulating
knowledge about language in classrooms.
The process of English learning were focusing on getting
knowledge about language rather than using and
performing fluency in actual situations . Those who are
exposed to L2 in a young age can pick up L2 by analogy
as much as picking up L1. But those who are learning L2
as learning only in classes do not develop the same
proficiency .

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Patterns in L1 Development
Characteristics of the language of children:
 Their language development shows a high degree of
similarity among children all over the world. There are
predicable patterns in the L1 development and their L1
developmental patterns are related to their cognitive
development (predictability).
 Their language reflects the word order of the language that
they are hearing. The combination of the words has a
meaning relationship (learning through imitation).
 Their language also shows they are able to apply the rules of
the language to make sentences which they have never
heard before (creativity).

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The stages of the child
language development :
1- “Babbling” : The first stage of language
development . During this period , which typically
lasts from the age of three to nine months , babies
begin to make vowel sound such as oooo and
aaaaa . By five months , infants typically begin to
babble and add consonant sounds to their sounds
such as ba-ba-ba , ma-ma-ma or da-da-da

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2- “Single word” : The second stage is known as
the one-word or holophase stage of language
development. Around the age of 10 to 13
months , children will begin to produce their first
real words. While children are only capable of
producing a few , single words at this point, it is
important to realize that they are able to
understand considerably more. Infants begin to
comprehend language about twice as fast as
they are able to produce it.

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3- “Two words” : The third stage begins around
the age of 18 months, when children begin to use
two word sentences. These sentences usually
consist of just nouns and verbs, such as :Where
daddy?” and “ Puppy big” .

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4- “Multi-word sentences” : Around the age
of two, children begin to produce short ,
multi-word sentences that have a subject and
predicate . For example, a child might say
“Mommy is nice” or “ Want more candy” .
~ As children age, they continue to learn more
new words every day. By the time they enter
school around the age of five, children
typically have a vocabulary of 10,000 words
or more.

10. - Birth : Language learning starts at birth .
Even new babies are aware of the sounds
in the environment.
- They listen to the speech of those close
to them, and startle or cry if there is an
unexpected noise.
- 0-3 months : babies learn to turn to you
when you speak , and smile when they
hear your voice. In fact, they seem to
recognize your familiar voice.
10
Ages :

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- 4-6 months: babies respond to the word
“no” . They are also responsive to changes
in your tone of voice. And to sounds other
than speech. For example, they can be
fascinated by toys and other objects that
make sounds, enjoy music and rhythm.

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- 7-12 months : The baby listens when
spoken to, turns and looks at your face
when called by name, and discovers the
fun of games like: “round and round the
garden” , “peep-oh” , “ I see” , (daaaaay).
- The child recognizes the names of familiar
objects (Daddy, car, eyes, phone, key) and
begin to respond to requests (Give it to
Granny) and questions (More juice) ?

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1-2 years : The child can follow simple
commands (Push the bus!) , (Don’t touch, it’s
hot!) and understand simple questions
(Where’s the bunny?) , (Who likes Miffy?) ,
(What’s in your purse ?)
Your toddler now likes listening to simple stories
and enjoys it when you sing songs or say
rhymes.
This is a stage in which he or she will want the
same story , rhyme or game repeated many
times.

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2-3 years : They understand two stage
commands (Get your socks and put them in
the basket) and understand contrasting
concepts or meanings like hot/cold ,
stop/go , in/on and nice/yuccy. He or she
notices sounds like the telephone or
doorbell ringing and may point or become
excited , get you to answer, or attempt to
answer themselves.

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3-4 years : Your three or four years old
understand simple “Who”? , “What?” and
“Where?” questions, and can hear you when
you call from another room. This is an age
where hearing difficulties may become
evident. If you are in doubt about your
child’s hearing , see a clinical audiologist.

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4-5 years : Children in this age range enjoy
stories and can answer simple questions about
them. He or she hears and understands nearly
everything that is said (within reason) at home
at pre-school or day care. The child speaks
clearly and fluently in an easy-to-listen-to voice.
He or she can construct long and detailed
sentences (We went to the zoo but we had to
come home early because Sally wasn’t feeling
well”; “ I want to have a horse of my own like
Evan, and Daddy says when he wins the lottery
he will buy me a one” .