Q6 : Describe language development in children, highlighting its components.Â
Ans :Â Language Development in Children and Its Components
Introduction
Language development in children refers to the gradual process through which they learn to understand, communicate, and express themselves using words, sentences, and gestures. In developmental psychology, language acquisition is seen as a crucial cognitive and social milestone.
According to psychologists like Noam Chomsky and B.F. Skinner, language development involves both biological readiness and environmental influence. Children naturally move through identifiable stages as they grow.
#StagesofLanguageDevelopment
Pre-Linguistic Stage (0–12 months):
Babies communicate through crying, cooing, and babbling.
By 6–9 months, they begin recognizing familiar words like “mama” or “bye-bye.”
Single-Word or Holophrastic Stage (12–18 months):
Use of single words to express entire ideas.
Example: Saying “milk” means “I want milk.”
Two-Word Stage (18–24 months):
Combining two words like “want toy” or “go park.”
This shows the beginning of grammar understanding.
Early Multiword Stage (2–3 years):
Formation of simple sentences.
Vocabulary expands quickly, about 200–300 words.
Later Multiword Stage (3–5 years):
More complex sentences, using correct grammar and tenses.
Children ask many questions like “why” and “how.”
#ComponentsofLanguageDevelopment
Psychology identifies four key components:
Phonology
Understanding and producing the sounds of language.
Example: Knowing the difference between “bat” and “pat.”
Morphology
Understanding how words are formed using prefixes, suffixes, plurals, etc.
Example: Adding “-ed” for past tense like “walked.”
Syntax
Arranging words into proper sentences following grammar rules.
Example: “She is playing” instead of “playing she.”
Semantics
Understanding the meaning of words and sentences.
Example: Knowing that “dog” refers to a specific animal.
Pragmatics (Sometimes considered separately)
Using language appropriately in social contexts.
Example: Saying “please” when requesting something.
Conclusion
Language development in children is a dynamic, step-by-step process involving multiple components such as phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. Understanding these helps psychologists, teachers, and counsellors support children’s communication skills effectively, ensuring healthy cognitive and social growth.
#IGNOU #MAPC-2 #Assignment paper 002
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