When does Language Acquisition begin?

• Before birth
• Crying- child is trying to communicate
• Cooing- child is exercising vocal equipment
• Babbling- important stage

Further aspects:

• Reduplicated monosyllables- one syllable words that are repeated e.g. 'ma' 'da'
• Phonemic expansion/contraction- picking particular sounds to use and getting rid of un-needed sounds. Here you can tell what language the child is going to speak
• Understanding: associating words with objects
• Intonation and gesture

• 12-18 months
• Only one word is used
• These are not one word sentences as they have a grammatical function (holophrases) e.g. blanket:
• Where is my blanket?
• I want my blanket
• That blanket is mine

• 18 months-2 years
• This is where real grammar starts
• There is a gradual change rather than an abrupt change
• Involves putting 2 utterances together in a non rhythmic way e.g. daddy no
• Lengthy sequences of holophrases may appear but using 2 utterances will become increasingly common

Word phrases have several meanings:

• Actor performing action e.g. daddy drive
• Action affecting an object e.g. push pram
• Object is giving a location e.g. apple there
• Object is given a description e.g. apple shiny

• 2 years
• 3/4 words are used
• Differ in syntax: can be declarative, interrogative or imperative
• Telegraphic feature: missing out function words and only including content words
• Age 3: telegraphic element disappears and child enters post telegraphic stage