Language Acquisition: Terms Every Scholar Should Know
From Babble to Syntax:
Essential Concepts in Language Acquisition
1. Language Acquisition
The process through which humans naturally acquire language, especially during childhood. It includes both first (L1) and second (L2) language acquisition.
2. Critical Period Hypothesis (CPH)
A theory suggesting that there is a biologically determined window (usually before puberty) during which language acquisition occurs most naturally and effectively.
3. Universal Grammar (UG)
Proposed by Noam Chomsky — the idea that humans are born with innate grammatical principles common to all languages.
4. Input Hypothesis (Krashen)
Claims that learners acquire language best when exposed to comprehensible input that is slightly beyond their current level (i+1).
5. Output Hypothesis (Swain)
Argues that producing language (speaking/writing) helps learners notice gaps and internalize rules more effectively than input alone.
6. Interaction Hypothesis (Long)
Emphasizes the role of meaningful social interaction in language development, where negotiation of meaning drives learning.
7. Overgeneralization
A common developmental error where learners apply rules too broadly.
E.g., "goed" instead of "went."
8. First Language Attrition
The gradual loss of a native language due to lack of use, often seen in immigrant contexts where the second language dominates.
9. Transfer (Positive/Negative)
Influence of L1 on L2 learning.
✅ Positive: similarities aid learning.
❌ Negative: differences cause errors.
10. Interlanguage Fossilization
When a learner’s language system plateaus and persistent errors become fixed despite exposure and instruction.
11. Emergentism
Challenges UG by proposing that language arises from usage patterns, cognitive processes, and environmental input — not innate grammar.
12. Holophrastic Stage
Early stage in child L1 development where single words convey complex meanings.
E.g., “Milk!” = “I want milk.”
13. Telegraphic Speech
Stage of early child speech marked by short, grammarless utterances that carry meaning.
E.g., “Daddy go work.”
14. Bootstrapping
How children use partial cues (semantic, syntactic, or prosodic) to figure out language rules.
15. Motherese / Child-Directed Speech
Simplified, high-pitched, and exaggerated speech adults use with children.
Facilitates early acquisition.
16. Language Socialization
The process of acquiring language alongside cultural norms and values, often subtly embedded in everyday interactions.
17. Bilingual First Language Acquisition (BFLA)
Simultaneous development of two native languages in early childhood — may follow one person–one language strategy or mixed input.
18. Code-Mixing & Code-Switching in Children
Natural in bilingual development; children may alternate languages within a sentence or conversation.
19. Statistical Learning
Infants' ability to detect probabilistic patterns in language input — such as syllable frequencies — helps in word segmentation.
20. Silent Period
Observed in L2 learners (especially children) — an initial phase where they do not speak but are actively absorbing the language.
