Essay On Language Development

Language Development

When it comes to the effects of gender on language development, one of the most frequently asked questions is: do males and females develop language differently? Studies have shown both similarities and differences between male and female language development. Apel and Masterson (2001) explain that both genders acquire language skills along the same timeline and that both become active, engaging conversationalists. Although research has shown both similarities and differences in language development, pertaining to gender, a major influencing factor has come from parents. Observations have shown that during the different stages of language development, parents tend to use different types of language with males than with females, which continually affect an individual throughout his or her entire life.

As the development of sounds and speech begin, we can first a take look at infant developmental stages. The first stage is the phonation stage where some vocalizations are made similar to syllabic nasal sounds. The second stage is the coo and goo stage. In this area, sounds that are being produced are similar to back vowels, consonant-vowels, and vowel consonant syllables (ie: velars). The third stage is one that is the exploration and expansion stage. In this stage, we are able to see productions that are considered more of a sequence that involve consonant-vowel and vowel-consonant shapes. The fourth stage is the canonical babbling stage. During this stage, the production of velars seems to decrease a little, where as the production of alveolars and bilabials increase. The last stage is the variegated babbling stage. In this stage, the child’s production of speech begins to sounds more like the way, whic...

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...s having articulator-motor problems or phonological problems.

Conclusion

Research has shown both similarities and differences between male and female language development. When is comes to the effects on language development, studies showed that mothers, fathers, and peers, all share some amount of impact on the way in which the child’s language develops. The male and female genders have an effect on different areas of language development. Areas such as style, language, and communication are often affected, as well as how opposite sexes of adults interact with one another. Therefore, how parents or caregivers interact with his or her children essentially makes or brakes how that individual communicates. Research has shown that during the different stages of language development gender had played a role in effecting the language development of a child.