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| So you're into sci fi? But what about sci fact? Sometimes fact is stranger than fiction... Each month our very own Voyager Science Queen* will bring you interesting, quirky and downright bizarre tasty morsels from the world of science. And its all completely, totally, 100% true! March Sci-Facts |
Science Page March 2008Last month, the article focussed on First Language Acquisition. This month, we look at the acquisition of syntax and grammar: the structure of language. If you listen carefully to a small child speaking, you will notice several basic patterns. There will be no or little use of function words like the determinative ‘the’; few or no pronouns; no inflection of verbs and nouns; or the use of passive language. However, the child will still use a consistent word order. This word order is often the correct for adult usage, such as a child identifying a ‘red ball’, where the adjective is before the noun. Surprisingly, as they grow older, children do not rely on imitation or reinforcement to learn language structure. This is evident in their use of non-standard words and sentences when they are acquiring language. Most people have heard a child say things like: ‘Daddy goed’ or ‘Sally eated’ or ‘Cat stand up table’, when she is first experimenting with verb inflection; the child has used the principle of overgeneralization to construct their language. The child believes that a grammar rule should be applied the same way in the same situation. Children are often so attached to their own ‘logical’ grammar and syntax that they will refuse to be corrected; this can be very frustrating for the parent trying to assist a child in using proper speech. However, as the child gains more experience with using language, she will eventually start using the standard syntax and grammar patterns. So, how do children gain their language skills? Through fast-mapping and boot-strapping, where a child hears the word used and works out its meaning, class, and function from the context. This can often create amusing situations when they get it wrong. As well, there is the whole object principle, where the child assumes a word refers to the whole object and not its bits and pieces. This may sometimes clash with the only one name principle, where a child assumes - sensibly - that any object has only one name. So, the family cat is a ‘cat’ under the whole object principle...and then you refer to the cat as ‘Felix’, and to parts of the cat as ‘paws’ and ‘tail’. The child may confuse ‘Felix’ as to mean all four-legged furry animals, or that ‘Paws’ is the name of the individual pet. However, most of the time the child will work out the correct usage of a word swiftly and without direct adult assistance. These principles are common to every child, no matter what language(s) they may be acquiring. All that children need to acquire a language is exposure to that language. This suggests that children are biologically wired to acquire language (which is why I have tried to avoid using the word ‘learn). As a zoologist, this seems self-evident to me, as language acquisition is rapid, easy and uniform. However, please be aware that other scientists do not believe in this biological attribute. I can’t leave this subject without mention the idea of a Universal Grammar. Avram Noam Chomsky theorised that all children have an innate set of language principles/rules with which they are born, rather than the biological tendency to acquire language, and that these principles/rules are pruned and set parameters during language acquisition. For example, most children start negating sentences by putting the negation at the start of a sentence (No bath.), but they will also try to negation by other methods, like negation in front of the verb (No want -; No like -), or using negative words (Not nice; ‘Unhappy’ rather than ‘not happy’). As the child gains more experience with the language, she will start using appropriate negation. The Universal Grammar idea is considered controversial and is not accepted universally. Usually, the Universal Grammar people and the biological trait people are the ones at loggerheads. I can’t help but believe that the logistics of language acquisition are complex, and will probably turn out to be a mixture of these theories with the addition of other factors. For anyone who is now interested in learning more, there are hundreds of books dedicated to this topic. |
| *The Voyager Science Queen is also known as Lynne Green So, who is this woman who attempts to entertain us with Science? Well, I really am a scientist. I have a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Queensland, in Zoology. And, at the moment, I am working in a Pathology laboratory. I have always been intensely curious about every aspect of our universe, from the teeny tiny workings of the gene right up to the mind-bending forces that are twisting and knotting inside a blackhole. So, now I am sharing a brain stuffed full of trivia...and hopefully entertaining people at the same time. As well, I write Fantasy stories and novels. One day, I hope to have a book published, but don't hold your breath. Reading is my other major love, and my favourite authors are Terry Pratchett and Isaac Asimov, though I could list hundreds of others. If I had one wish, I ask for more time to write! Read previous Sci-Facts: Language Acquisition Looking for more scientific oddities? Have you checked out Dr Steven Juan's website? He is, quite literally, the wizard of odds! |
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