Can you imagine? You fall asleep and wake up in a foreign country, not knowing where you are or how you got there. You try to communicate with the people around you, but you realize you don’t understand their language. With no computers or translators available, you have to learn a new language to find your way back home.
But how long will it take? There’s no one to teach you, so you have to listen and learn on your own. It might seem impossible, but it’s not. In fact, you’ve already done it before. This situation is similar to when you were born and had to learn how to speak without a translator, grammar book, or speech coach!
If you can imagine this scenario, you can understand the miraculous process of language acquisition. It’s a mystery that scientists still don’t fully comprehend. How is it possible for us to be born and, within a few years, have a basic command of a language and a vocabulary of thousands of words?
When we think about a baby’s first words, we can see that imitation likely plays a role in learning those initial sounds that become words. After hearing our parents repeat “mama” and “dada” countless times, it’s no surprise that these might be the first words we learn to speak.
However, linguistic experts believe that imitation is not the only factor at play. As soon as children start speaking and forming their first sentences, they are able to express original thoughts that are not mere imitations of what they’ve heard before.
Some experts suggest that children develop a basic set of language rules on their own by listening to those around them. Through trial and error, they quickly learn to choose words and arrange them in a way that effectively communicates their wants and needs.
As children grow, their speech improves as they modify and expand their set of language rules to match the speech of those around them more closely. Remarkably, children all over the world seem to learn to talk in similar ways, following a similar sequence and developmental timeline.
How is this possible? Some researchers propose that the ability to learn language is partially innate in human beings. This idea dates back thousands of years to Plato, and researchers are still investigating whether he was correct.
While some experts disagree with the notion of an innate language learning ability, a recent study has provided some evidence supporting this idea. Even if there is an innate component to language acquisition, researchers emphasize the significant impact of the conversations children hear and participate in. Language acquisition is a complex puzzle, and researchers acknowledge that they do not yet fully understand all of its pieces.
Give It a Go
We could keep talking endlessly about language! However, now it’s time to ask a few friends or family members to assist you in exploring the following activities:
- Can you recall when you uttered your first words? Most likely not! But that’s alright. It was a long time ago. To gain further insight into how children develop language during their early years, take a look at the Talking Timeline online. Discuss it with your family members. Did your speech milestones align with the timeline?
- Find a friend or family member who has babies or young children. Spend some time observing the children. How many words do they know? Can they mimic you? How many words can they string together in a sentence? Do they seem to grasp some basic rules of syntax and grammar? How would you evaluate their current stage of speech development?
- To gain a better understanding of the remarkable nature of language development in early childhood, spend some time attempting to learn basic words and phrases in a foreign language. Choose a language that you have never spoken or heard before. Utilize online resources to find an introduction to learning that language and give it a shot. How easy or difficult do you find it to acquire a new language?
Sources of Wonder
- http://www.education.com/reference/article/how-children-learn-talk/
- http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/babies-learn-talk/story?id=13623881
- http://www.parenting.com/article/how-children-learn-to-talk
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