自考英语语言学Chapter_10_Language_Acquisition
10语言学
A behaviorist view of language acquisition
Traditional behaviorists view language as behavior and believe that language learning is simply a matter of imitation and habit formation. Imitation Recognition Reinforcement The inadequacy of behaviorist view lies in explaining how children acquire complex language system. (See examples in P142)
A behaviorist view of language acquisition (Skinners) An innatist view of language acquisition (Chomsky) An interactionist view of language acquisition
2) The cognitive factors determine how the child makes sense of the linguistic system himself instead of what meanings the child perceives and expresses. Many careful studies of children’s acquisition children’ sequences and errors in various language have revealed that children have some “operating principles” principles” for making sense of language data. Example； Example；the acquisition of negative form
Chapter 10language acquisition
4. Second language acquisition
• 1. Acquisition vs. learning • 2. Transfer and interference • 3. Error analysis and the natural route of SLA development • 4. Inter-language and fossilization • 5. The role of input • 6. The role of formal instruction • 7. Individual learner factors
Language aptitude
• Components of language aptitude Phonetic coding ability Grammatical sensitivity Inductive language learning ability Rote learning ability
grammatical system
• • • • 1. The development of phonology 2. The development of syntax 3. The development of morphology 4. The development of vocabulary and semantics
Chapter 10 Language Acquisition
• 1. First language acquisition
1.1 The biological basis of language acquisition 1.2 Language acquisition as the acquisition of grammatical rules 1.3 The role of input and interaction 1.4 The role of instruction 1.5 The role of correction and reinforcement 1.6 The role of imitation
英语语言学57665
Chapter 10 Language Acquisition1. Try to explain the terms:Language acquisitionLanguage Acquisition DeviceCritical Period Hypothesis,答：Language acquisition refers to the child's acquisition of his mother tongue, i.e. how the child comes to understand and speak the language of his community.Language Acquisition Device, (also known as LAD). The LAD was described as an imaginary “black box” existing somewhere in the human brain. The “black box” is said to contain principles that are universal to all human languages. Children need access to the samples of a natural language to activate the LAD, which enables them to discover his language's structure by matching the innate knowledge of basic grammatical system to that particular language.Closely related to the external language environment, age is another factor that is worth mentioning in first language acquisition. Observed that children's ability to develop normal behaviors and knowledge in environments does not continue indefinitely end that children who have never learned language (for various reasons) cannot return to normal if these deprivations go on for too long, Eric Lenneberg, a biologist, argued that the LAD, like other biological functions, works successfully only when it is stimulated at the right time ––a specific and limited time period for language acquisition –– which is referred to as the Critical Period Hypothesis (CPH). There are two versions of the CPH. While the strong one suggests that children must acquire their first language by puberty or they will never be able to learn from subsequent exposure, the weak holds that language learning will be more difficult and incomplete after puberty.2. Among the language acquisition theories mentioned in this chapter, which one do you think is more reasonable and convincing? Explain why.答：The language acquisition theories mentioned in this chapter have different emphasis on different aspects. Behaviorists view sounds reasonable in explaining the routine aspects, the innatist accounts most plausible in explaining children's acquiring complex system, and the interactive description convincing in understanding how children learn and use the language appropriately from their environment. In my opinion, behaviorists view is more reasonable and convincing because language acquisition is a process of enforcing and reinforcing. Only through this process can a person learn a language well.3. Which of the following statements are TRUE and which are FALSE? Why?a) All normal children have equal ability in learning their first language.b) It is easy for parents to teach their children grammar.c) The young child is not taught to speak, or to understand his language. There is no formal learning of grammar or pronunciation practice.d) At first children do not inflect nouns or verbs.e) Children learn their native language well whenever they start and whatever kinds of language samples they receive.f) For a child to acquire his mother tongue the most basic requirement is that he hears people speaking this language. He will then begin to learn the language.g) Phonology and grammar are finite, tightly structured systems, the child must master them before puberty in order to be a native speaker of the language.答：a) True, because of LAD.b) False, because children's grammatical development is gradual and some subtle grammatical distinctions may not be mastered much before the age of ten.c) True, because his language is acquired.d) True, because at the very beginning, children's language is totally about content.e) False, because of CPH.f) True, because when a child acquires his native language he needs language environment.g) True, because of CPH.4. Each of the following utterances comes from the speech of a child in the two-word state. Identify the semantic relation expressed by each of these utterancesIntended meaning Child’s utterancea) Jimmy is swimming? Jimmy swimb) Ken’s book Ken bookc) Daddy is at his office. Daddy officed) You push the babies. Push babye) Mommy is reading. Mommy read答：(略)Chapter 11 Second Language Acquisition1. To what extent is second language learning similar to first language learning? Can you list some proof from your own learning experiences?答：(1) From a theoretical point of view, the new findings and advances in first language acquisition especially in learning theories and learning process are illuminating in understanding second language acquisition. The techniques used to collect and analyze date in first language acquisition also provide insights and perspectives in the study of second language acquisition. For example, we started to learn our native language from listening, and then speaking.(2) (略)2. Try to observe yourself and pay attention to your own learning experience, what conclusions can you reach about the role of Chinese in your English learning? On what occasions are you more likely to use or depend on Chinese in learning or using English?答：(略)3. Identify the errors in the following sentences and trace the possible cause for each error.a) Please do not hinder my work.b) –– Would you mind lending me your tape-recorder?–– Yes, certainly.c) During the meeting we discussed about the research project.d) Alison is in poor health. She is easy to catch cold.e) Tile light can impress the film and in this way to fix the image of the film.f) The scenery is too beautiful to describe it.答：a) Please do not hinder me in my work.(negative transfer)b) –– Would you mind lending me your tape-recorder?–– No, I don't.(negative transfer)c) During the meeting we discussed the research project.(overgeneralization)d) Alison is in poor health. She catches cold easily.(overgeneralization)e) The light can impress the film and in this way can fix the image of the film.(negative transfer)f) The scenery is too beautiful to describe.(cross-association)4. Based on your own experience, give at least three examples which are related to overgeneralization and performance errors.答：Overgeneralization: * I losed the game.* There are ten sheeps.* I was devoted to do this job.5. What kind of a language learner you are? Have you ever thought of why and how you learn English?答：(略)6. List the learning strategies you use frequently, and then compare that with the strategy listed in 11. 8.答：(略)7. Identify personality factors that may contribute to the success of learning a second/foreign language.答：The personality traits such as extroversion, talkativeness, self-esteem,self-confidence may contribute to the success of learning a second/foreign language.女人，应该活出自己的自信和精彩，不能把赖以生存的东西寄托在他人身上，不管他多么爱你，终有一天会厌倦你的依赖和无所事事。
自考语言学chapter10
Chapter 10 Language AcquisitionI. There are four choices following each statement. Mark the choice that can best complete the statement.1.Children’s language acquisition is _____ of language.A. the memorization of wordsB. chiefly the internalization of individualC. primarily the acquisition of the grammatical systemD. simply a bunch of utterances2.By “language acquisition is primarily the acquisition of the grammatical system oflanguage”, linguists mean that_____.A. every specific rule allowed by the grammatical system of a language must be acquiredB. the phonological rules must be acquiredC. the syntactic rules must be acquiredD. the general principles that are fundamental to the grammaticality of speech must be acquired3.Children follow a similar ______schedule of predictable stages along the route oflanguage development across cultures.A. learningB. studyingC. acquisitionD. acquiring4.The development of linguistic skills involves the acquisition of _____rules ratherthan the mere memorization of words and sentences.A. morphologicalB. grammaticalC. linguisticD. syntactic5.It is suggested that children begin to develop the articulatory movements neededto produce the phonemic distinctions of their language______.A. after they master the phonemic contrastsB. before they master the phonemic contrastsC. long before they master the phonemic contrastsD. while they were mastering the phonemic contrasts6.______has been found to occur usually in children’s pronunciation or reporting ofthe truthfulness of utterances, rather than in the grammaticality of sentences.A. CorrectionB. InstructionC. ReinforcementD. Imitation7.Children are learning to distinguish between the sounds of their language and thesounds that are not part of the language during the period that______.A. children start to produce babbling soundsB. children have just learned to produce babbling soundsC. children’s babbling has become the same as the sound pattern of the language they are acquiringD. children’s babbling becomes more similar to the sound pattern of the language they are acquiring8.In general, the two-word stage begins roughly in the_____ half of the child’ssecond year.A. earlyB. lateC. firstD. second9.Children learning the Chinese language usually start to produce some of the tonalpatterns typical of the language______.A. before they utter any genuine wordsB. after they utter any genuine wordsC. while they are uttering any genuine wordsD. none of the above10.At the ______ stage negation is simply expressed by single words with negativemeaning.A. prelinguisticB. multiwordC. two-wordD. one-word11.Negation words occur at the beginning of expressions in child languageacquisition ______.A. at some point during the late multiword stageB. at some point after the multiword stageC. when the children’s language develops towards the early multiword stageD. when the children’s language develops after the early multiword stage12.By the time children are going beyond the ______ stage, they begin to incorporatesome of the inflectional morphemes.A. telegraphicB. multiwordC. two-wordD. one-word13.“He no bite you”is a negative utterance produced by children most probably______.A. in the early multiword stageB. in the mid multiword stageC. in the late multiword stageD. post the multiword stage14.The development of morphology, the first English inflectional form appears inchildren’s utterances is usually______.A. the “-s” formB. the “-ing” formC. the “-ed” formD. the “-es” form15.______ is defined as a conscious process of accumulating knowledge of a secondlanguage usually obtained in school settings.A. AcquisitionB. LearningC. StudyingD. Acquirement16.In children’s utterances, “two feets”, “goed”,“comed”, etc. occur although somechildren are aware of the irregular forms of them. These inflectional errors are the result of ______.A. children’s carelessnessB. improper instructionC. the wrong inputD. children’s overgeneralizing a constructed rule17.Studies on the effects of formal instruction on SLA show that formal instructionmay help learners perform some types of tasks except______.A. planned speechB. writingC. career-oriented examD. casual and spontaneous conversation18.______ transfer is a process that is more commonly known as interference.A.IntentionalB. PositiveC. NegativeD. InterrogativeII. Fill in each of the following blanks with one word which begins with the letter given.1.All n_______ human beings acquire their native language at a given time of lifeand in an appropriate linguistic environment.2.The development of a first or native language is called first languagea__________.3.In the biological view of language acquisition, human beings are equipped withthe n_________ prerequisites for language and language use.4.For the vast majority of children, language development occurs spontaneously andrequires little conscious i_________ on the part of adults.5.Naturally, learners will subconsciously use their L1 knowledge in learning asecond language. This is known as language t________.6.Imitation plays at best a very m_________ role in the child’s mastery of language.7.The pre-school years are a c_______ period for first language acquisition.8.The emergence of articulatory skills begins around the age when children start toproduce b________ sounds.9.I________ is the language that a learner constructs at a given stage of SLA.10.Children begin to incorporate some of the inflectional morphemes which indicatethe grammatical function of nouns and verbs used by the time they are gong beyond the y________ stage.11.According to he contrastive Analysis approach, L2 errors were predominantlythe result of n________ transfer.12.When learners take a second language in order to integrate themselves with thesecond language community, their motivation in the second language learning is called i________ motivation.Ⅲ. Decide whether each of the following statements is True or False.1.Linguists have arrived at an understanding that some children are morecapable of acquiring their first language than others. ( )nguage acquisition is primarily the acquisition of the grammatical systemof language. ( )3.In natural settings, parents always correct young children’s utterances thatviolate the rules of the grammar. ( )4.The acquisition of case and gender forms of nouns in French seems moredifficult than in English, so French is more challenging to be acquired as anative language. ( )5.Human beings are genetically predetermined to acquire language, and this issufficient for language development. ( )6.According to the course book, conscious instruction on the part of adults isaltogether futile in child language development from the stage of a babbler tothat of a fluent speaker. ( )7.Many utterance types produced by children do not closely resemblestructures found in adult speech. ( )8.One-word utterances sometimes show an overextension or underextension ofreference. ( )9.Children make virtually no word order errors at the multiword stage.( )10.The age at which children pass through the one-word stage is the same fromchild to child. ( )11.The earliest sounds produced by infants can be considered as early language.( )12.Like one-word expression, two-word expressions are absent of syntactic ormorphological markers. ( )13.Positive transfer occurs when an L1 pattern is different from the counterpartpattern of the target language. ( )14.The emergence of articulatory skills begins around the age when childrenstart to produce babbling sounds. ( )15.Empirical studies show that the process of SLA is a process of constructingand modifying rules of communication. ( )16.Now the exact cause of fossilization and the ways to unfossilize the fossilizedlanguage are well known. ( )17.A large proportion of grammatical errors in second language acquisition canbe explained by mother tongue interference. ( )18.It has been proved that there is a uniform way in which learners acquire theknowledge of a second language. ( )19.By researchers of language acquisition significant relationship has beenfound between talkativeness on the one hand and overall proficiency in a L2on the other. ( )20.The process of adapting to the new culture of the L2 community is calledacculturation. ( )Ⅳ. Define the following terms, giving example for illustration if necessary.nguage acquisitionnguage transfer3.contrastive analysis4.interlanguage5.fossilization6.acculturation。
英语专业语言学课件Chapter_10_Language_acquisition (2)
Innate behaviors . . .
1. Maturationally controlled, emerging before they are critically needed 2. Do not appear as the result of a conscious decision. 3. Are relatively unaffected by direct teaching and intensive practice. 4. Follow a regular sequence of “milestones” in their development. 5. Generally observe a critical period for their acquisition
“Universal Grammar”
Humans then learn to specialize this “universal grammar” (UG) for the particulars of their language.
Wቤተ መጻሕፍቲ ባይዱrd order, syntactic rule preferences Phonetic and phonological constraints Lexicon Semantic interpretations Pragmatic ways to converse
Chapter 10 Language Acquisition
Brain-storming We are not born speaking! Language must be acquired. If we think of all that is entailed in knowing a language, it seems quite a challenge.
英语语言学 第十章 母语习得
Stages in child language development
▪ Vocabulary development
1) Under-extension
2) Over-extension
lexical contrast theory and Prototype theory （词汇对比差异和原型理论）
Mommy sock 2) Sentences of three main elements
daddy kick ball that big bag put truck window
Stages in child language development
Pragmatic development
how to speak to others in an approapriate manner e.g. gender; politeness
自考英语语言学Chapter_10_Language_Acquisition
Chapter 10 Language Acquisition语言习得一、本章纲要二、本章重点Language acquisition is concerned with language development in humans. In general, language acquisition refers to children’s development of their first language, that is, the native language of the community in which a child has been brought up. The development of a first or native language (L1) is called first language acquisition (FLA), and then second language acquisition (SLA). L1 and L2 development do not seem to involve identical processes. 语言习得关注的是人类语言能力发展。
语言习得一般指儿童母语的发展。
有些孩子除了习得母语外，还要继续习得第二语言或外国语。
习得母语或第一语言称为第一语言习得，除了母语再习得另一门语言或外语称为第二语言习得。
The study of language acquisition enables linguists, psychologists and applied linguists to better understand the nature of human language and developmental processes of language acquisition.1.First language acquisition第一语言习得Whatever their culture, all normal human beings acquire their native language at a given time of life and in an appropriate linguistic environment that provides sufficient language exposure.(2004, 2007, 判断) It is an established understanding among linguists that the capacity to acquire one’s first language is a fundamental human trait that all human beings are equally well possessed with.No one is more successful than others in acquiring a first language. Children follow a similar acquisition schedule of predictable stages along the route of language development across cultures, though there is an idiosyntactic variation in the amount of time that takes individuals to master different aspects of the grammar. 儿童在习得母语时虽然会有个性差异，但是正常儿童只要有正常的交际环境和正常的母语输入都可以成功地习得母语，他们习得母语的过程也非常相似。
语言学概论第十章Language Acquisition课件
名字。。。。。。
学习交流PPT
1
Definition:
• Language acquisition----refers to the child’s acquisition of his mother tongue, i.e. how the child comes to understand and speak the language of his community.
it refers to first language not second languaT
2
• Children all over the world learn to speak at about the same time unless they suffer from extreme external deficiency.
• Traditional behaviorists view language as behavior and believe that language learning is simply a matter of imitation and habit formation.
Imitation Recognition Reinforcement
Behaviorist view
Innatist view
Three main different theories concerning how
language is learned
学习交流PPT
7
the behaviorist（行为主义论）
• proposed by B.F.Skinners(斯 金纳)
Chapter_10_Language_acquisition -
保姆式语言通常具有以下特点。 1. shorter utterances than speech to other adults 语句较 成人之间的对话简短。 2. grammatically simple utterances 语法简单 3. few abstract or difficult words, with a lot of repetition 极少有抽象或艰涩词汇。 4. clearer pronunciation, sometimes with exaggerated Intonation patterns 发音清晰，有时伴有夸张的语调。 Caretaker speech is easier for children to understand, and many people believe that it helps children to learn language. 保姆式语言便于儿童理解，许多人认为这有助于儿童学 习语言。
这里也应当指出，“狼孩”本身毕竟是人类千世万代遗传 下来的后辈，因此当“狼孩”回到了人类社会中，必然会逐渐 恢复人类特有的习性。印度“狼孩”尽管似乎成了野兽般的生 物，但她死时已接近于人了。而辛格夫妇所豢养的那些家狗从 没有学会直立行走，更没有学会说话。 其次，“狼孩”的事例说明了儿童时期在人类身心发育上的 重要性。人的一生中，儿童时期在生理上和心理上都是一个迅 速发展的时期。例如仅就脑的重量而言，新生儿平均约390克， 9个月的婴儿脑重560克，2.5岁到3岁的儿童脑重增至900～1011 克，7岁儿童约为1280克，而成年人的脑重平均约1400克。这说 明在社会环境作用下，儿童的脑获得了迅速发展。正是在儿童 时期，逐步学会了直立和说话，学会用脑思维，为以后智力和 才能的发展打下了基础。“狼孩”由于在动物中长大，错过了 这种社会实践的机会，这就使她们的智力水平远远比不上同年 岁的正常儿童。
英语语言学
Chapter 10 Language Acquisition1. Try to explain the terms:Language acquisitionLanguage Acquisition DeviceCritical Period Hypothesis,答：Language acquisition refers to the child's acquisition of his mother tongue, i.e. how the child comes to understand and speak the language of his community.Language Acquisition Device, (also known as LAD). The LAD was described as an imaginary “black box” existing somewhere in the human brain. The “black box” is said to contain principles that are universal to all human languages. Children need access to the samples of a natural language to activate the LAD, which enables them to discover his language's structure by matching the innate knowledge of basic grammatical system to that particular language.Closely related to the external language environment, age is another factor that is worth mentioning in first language acquisition. Observed that children's ability to develop normal behaviors and knowledge in environments does not continue indefinitely end that children who have never learned language (for various reasons) cannot return to normal if these deprivations go on for too long, Eric Lenneberg, a biologist, argued that the LAD, like other biological functions, works successfully only when it is stimulated at the right time ––a specific and limited time period for language acquisition –– which is referred to as the Critical Period Hypothesis (CPH). There are two versions of the CPH. While the strong one suggests that children must acquire their first language by puberty or they will never be able to learn from subsequent exposure, the weak holds that language learning will be more difficult and incomplete after puberty.2. Among the language acquisition theories mentioned in this chapter, which one do you think is more reasonable and convincing? Explain why.答：The language acquisition theories mentioned in this chapter have different emphasis on different aspects. Behaviorists view sounds reasonable in explaining the routine aspects, the innatist accounts most plausible in explaining children's acquiring complex system, and the interactive description convincing in understanding how children learn and use the language appropriately from their environment. In my opinion, behaviorists view is more reasonable and convincing because language acquisition is a process of enforcing and reinforcing. Only through this process can a person learn a language well.3. Which of the following statements are TRUE and which are FALSE? Why?a) All normal children have equal ability in learning their first language.b) It is easy for parents to teach their children grammar.c) The young child is not taught to speak, or to understand his language. There is no formal learning of grammar or pronunciation practice.d) At first children do not inflect nouns or verbs.e) Children learn their native language well whenever they start and whatever kinds of language samples they receive.f) For a child to acquire his mother tongue the most basic requirement is that he hears people speaking this language. He will then begin to learn the language.g) Phonology and grammar are finite, tightly structured systems, the child must master them before puberty in order to be a native speaker of the language.答：a) True, because of LAD.b) False, because children's grammatical development is gradual and some subtle grammatical distinctions may not be mastered much before the age of ten.c) True, because his language is acquired.d) True, because at the very beginning, children's language is totally about content.e) False, because of CPH.f) True, because when a child acquires his native language he needs language environment.g) True, because of CPH.4. Each of the following utterances comes from the speech of a child in the two-word state. Identify the semantic relation expressed by each of these utterancesIntended meaning Child’s utterancea) Jimmy is swimming? Jimmy swimb) Ken’s book Ken bookc) Daddy is at his office. Daddy officed) You push the babies. Push babye) Mommy is reading. Mommy read答：(略)Chapter 11 Second Language Acquisition1. To what extent is second language learning similar to first language learning? Can you list some proof from your own learning experiences?答：(1) From a theoretical point of view, the new findings and advances in first language acquisition especially in learning theories and learning process are illuminating in understanding second language acquisition. The techniques used to collect and analyze date in first language acquisition also provide insights and perspectives in the study of second language acquisition. For example, we started to learn our native language from listening, and then speaking.(2) (略)2. Try to observe yourself and pay attention to your own learning experience, what conclusions can you reach about the role of Chinese in your English learning? On what occasions are you more likely to use or depend on Chinese in learning or using English?答：(略)3. Identify the errors in the following sentences and trace the possible cause for each error.a) Please do not hinder my work.b) –– Would you mind lending me your tape-recorder?–– Yes, certainly.c) During the meeting we discussed about the research project.d) Alison is in poor health. She is easy to catch cold.e) Tile light can impress the film and in this way to fix the image of the film.f) The scenery is too beautiful to describe it.答：a) Please do not hinder me in my work.(negative transfer)b) –– Would you mind lending me your tape-recorder?–– No, I don't.(negative transfer)c) During the meeting we discussed the research project.(overgeneralization)d) Alison is in poor health. She catches cold easily.(overgeneralization)e) The light can impress the film and in this way can fix the image of the film.(negative transfer)f) The scenery is too beautiful to describe.(cross-association)4. Based on your own experience, give at least three examples which are related to overgeneralization and performance errors.答：Overgeneralization: * I losed the game.* There are ten sheeps.* I was devoted to do this job.5. What kind of a language learner you are? Have you ever thought of why and how you learn English?答：(略)6. List the learning strategies you use frequently, and then compare that with the strategy listed in 11. 8.答：(略)7. Identify personality factors that may contribute to the success of learning a second/foreign language.答：The personality traits such as extroversion, talkativeness, self-esteem, self-confidence may contribute to the success of learning a second/foreign language.。
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Chapter 10 Language Acquisition语言习得一、本章纲要二、本章重点Language acquisition is concerned with language development in humans. In general, language acquisition refers to children’s development of their first language, that is, the native language of the community in which a child has been brought up. The development of a first or native language (L1)is called first language acquisition (FLA), and then second language acquisition (SLA). L1 and L2 development do not seem to involve identical processes. 语言习得关注的是人类语言能力发展。
语言习得一般指儿童母语的发展。
有些孩子除了习得母语外，还要继续习得第二语言或外国语。
习得母语或第一语言称为第一语言习得，除了母语再习得另一门语言或外语称为第二语言习得。
The study of language acquisition enables linguists, psychologists and applied linguists to better understand the nature of human language and developmental processes of language acquisition.1.First language acquisition第一语言习得Whatever their culture, all normal human beings acquire their native language at a given time of life and in an appropriate linguistic environment that provides sufficient language exposure.(2004, 2007, 判断) It is an established understanding among linguists that the capacity to acquire one’s first language is a fundamental human trait that all human beings are equally well possessed with.No one is more successful than others in acquiring a first language. Children follow a similar acquisition schedule of predictable stages along the route of language development across cultures, though there is an idiosyntactic variation in the amount of time that takes individuals to master different aspects of the grammar. 儿童在习得母语时虽然会有个性差异，但是正常儿童只要有正常的交际环境和正常的母语输入都可以成功地习得母语，他们习得母语的过程也非常相似。
1.1The biological basis of language acquisition语言习得的生物基础This biological, or nativist 天赋, view of language acquisition means that humans are equipped with the neural prerequisites for language and language use. Our language faculty permits us to acquire any human language to which we are exposed to, including deaf children acquiring a sign language. Different languages have a similar level of complexity and details, and reflect general abstract properties of the common linguistic system called the Universal Grammar普遍语法.习得语言的能力是人类的生物特征之一。
人生来就有习得语言的神经系统。
只要有能力习得某一种语言的儿童就有能力不费力气地习得任何语言。
正常儿童语言习得的能力无高低之分；儿童习得的语言也无优劣之别。
虽然在习得语言某一特定的内容与习得另一种语言相应的内容看上去似乎有难易之别，但是这并不意味着一门语言作为母语比另一门语言难学。
儿童在习得母语时所需要的时间大致是一样的。
这在一定的程度上表明人类语言的难度是类似的，反映了普遍语法(universal grammar)的存在---一种高度抽象的语言共性体系。
(2006，判断) A child born to Chinese or English speaking family takes about the same number of years to acquire their native tongue, regardless of their general intelligence.1.2Language acquisition as the acquisition of grammatical rules语言习得是语法规则的习得（2007,单选；2008，判断）Language acquisition is primarily the acquisition of the grammatical system of language. It is misleading to speak of children acquiring language simply as internalizing individual expressions of language.What are actually acquired by young children are some general principles that are fundamental to the grammaticality of speech. It is noted that when producing utterances, children tend to apply general grammatical rules and defy individual irregular cases.语言习得是对语法规则系统的习得。
首先，没有人的大脑能够储存一个语言中的所有的词与表达。
儿童在处理语言时会根据所听到的语言输入构件自己的语法规则，并依据他们所构件的语法规则去说话。
如果没有这些生成性的规则，语言使用者是不可能说出和理解无数的他们从没有听过或使用的句子。
语言习得主要是句法体系的习得，但是这并不意味着习得一条一条具体的语法条条框框。
儿童实际所习得的是一些数量有限的抽象而高度概括的规则，他们会忽视这些规则的例外情况。
比如，儿童可能在一个名词后边加-s构成名词的复数，而不管这个名词是否是规则还是不规则的。
因此儿童在习得语言中的错误是体系的，也是可预见的。
1.3The role of input and interaction语言输入与交流的作用Children must be provided with an appropriate linguistic environment. The modified speech typically addressed to young children is called（2006，名词解释）caretaker speech, also known as babytalk, mothers-es, or parentese. Exposure to this type of language makes it easier for children to match linguistic forms with their meanings and for that reason, their acquisition of the vocabulary and structure of the language is made easier. 虽然人类习得语言的能力是人类天赋的生物特征，但是这种天赋的条件不是习得语言的充要条件。
一个正常的儿童还需要有接触语言和使用语言的环境才能习得语言。
如果在孩子出生后前几年，没有接触语言和使用语言的环境，那么孩子习得语言的能力就会受到严重的影响。
保姆语(caretaker speech, babytalk, motherese, parentese)是一种成年人的简化语言形式，通常用于和儿童的交际。
研究表明没有接触保姆语的儿童在习得母语的速度上并不一定比接触保姆语的儿童习得母语慢。
这意味着保姆语的存在对习得母语并不是必要条件。
但是保姆语有助于儿童建立语言形式与语义的关系，有助于孩子对语言的理解，使得词汇习得和结构习得变得相对容易些。
1.4The role of instruction语言教学的作用(2007，填空) Linguists have found that for the vast majority of children, language development occurs spontaneously and requires little conscious instruction有意识教育on the part of adults.正常儿童在习得母语时并不需要刻意的语言教学的帮助。