Digging up the Roots

 Roots of Language Development

For today’s blog, we will begin digging up the roots of Language Development. I would like to provide commentary for Dr. Barbara Lust’s talk at Cornell University that is specific to language acquisition (Cornell University & Albert Mann Library, 2007). She began with the history of language acquisition and the researchers who pre-dated her most current research. The talk established that language is acquired in the womb, prior to a child’s birth (Cornell University & Albert Mann Library, 2007). What was particularly insightful is that there are different schools of thought, the Rationalist and the Empirical approach which gives theory on how language is actually acquired (Cornell University & Albert Mann Library, 2007).  Essentially how a child is exposed to language in their initial first year is pivotal in how a child learns a language. In a “normal” setting, I am assuming Dr. Lust means when a child does not have any learning challenges, the format is similar in that children begin with words and sentences and meaning developed by experience (Cornell University & Albert Mann Library, 2007). Dr. Lust’s book specifically looks at language development from an interdisciplinary approach and from all levels of representation (Cornell University & Albert Mann Library, 2007). I appreciated the discussion about how children can learn multiple languages at once and the process is still the same.

The video itself was helpful in better understanding of the text. Dr. Lust’s Booktalk further elucidates the process of language acquisition which is key in a child learning to read. Language has five parameters: syntax, morphology, phonology, semantics and pragmatics. 

Syntax is the form or structure of a language (Owens, 2019, p.18).Morphology is concerned with internal organization of words (Owens, 2019, p.20).Phonology is the aspect of the language concerned with rules governing the structure, distribution and sequencing of speech sounds and the shape of syllables (Owens, 2019, p.21).Semantics is a system of rules governing the meaning  or content of words and word combinations (Owens, 2019,p.22).Pragmatics concentrates on the social use of language and on how you use language to  achieve your communication goals (Owens, 2019,p.24).

 Each part is essential in knowing where a student with reading challenges as well as an English learner may struggle at a key element and impact their reading. I often see this with universal screeners like Dynamic Indicators of Basic Literacy Skills (DIBELS) in which educators must drill down to find out where a student is having difficulty. Most of the time in elementary students I find it in phonemic awareness. English Language Learners are particularly challenged because certain letters and sounds are not the same in their home language.

An area of interest that I think would be helpful in teaching African American students is learning how dialects and code switching play a part in how students learn language (Owens, 2019, p.27). This will be shared in coming blogs. Stay tuned as we dig up the roots of language development.

References

Cornell University & Albert Mann Library. (2007, November 29). Child Language Acquisition. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9gATksP8xc&feature=youtu.be

Owens, R. (2019). Language Development: An Introduction. Pearson Education, Incorporated.

TedTalk & Bowern, C. (n.d.). Ted-Ed Where Did English Come From. Ted-Ed. https://ed.ted.com/lessons/where-did-english-come-from-claire-bowern

Treasure, J. (2011, July). Julian Treasure: 5 ways to listen better. TED. Retrieved October 18, 2022, from https://www.ted.com/talks/julian_treasure_5_ways_to_listen_better