Language Acquisition: Understanding Language and its Ontogenetic and Phylogenetic Aspects

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Over thousands of years language has evolved and continued to develop to what we know it as today. Throughout the years, it has been studied how we learn language and the benefits of learning it as well as the deficits of not learning it. While studying language it is important to consider the language acquisition device, language acquisition support system, and Infant-Directed and Adult-Directed Speech. Not only is it important to learn language in general, but there are specific sensitive periods in which a human must learn the language in order to obtain developmental milestones. The sensitive period is also crucial when learning a second language and can greatly affect the human when speaking that language. During the sensitive period while a child is learning language it is important that they learn the specifics about language structure and the aspects of language. Once the child has learned the aspects of language, they are also emerged into learning universal grammar. Lastly, the learning of language has influenced ontogeny and phylogeny in various ways. This influence will continue to arise as change occurs and humans and the world continue to develop and evolve. Understanding how to define a subject matter is the first step in any successful study, and for the successful explanation of language and it’s acquisition and development, a definition must first be understood. Language, as defined by Webster’s dictionary reads as, “a systematic means of communicating ideas or feelings by the use of conventionalized signs, sounds, gestures, or marks having understood meanings”. This definition provides as a useful explanation of language for an evolutionary developmental psychological perspective because the definition... ... middle of paper ... ...on. Cognition, 40(3), 159-201. Johnson, J. S., & Newport, E. L. (1989). Critical period effects in second language learning: The influence of instructional state on the acquisition of english as a second language. Cognitive Psychology, 21, 60-99. Merriam-Webster. (n.d.) An Encyclopedia Britannica Company. Retrieved December 3, 2013, from http://www.merriam-webster.com Mayberry, R., I. & Eichen, E., B. (1991). The long-lasting advantage of learning sign language in childhood: Another look at the critical period for language acquisition. Memory & Language, 30, 486-512. Nowak, M. A., Komarova, N. L., & Niyogi, P. (2001). Evolution of Universal Grammar. Science, 291 (5501), 114-118. Smith, P. K., Cowie, H., Blades, M. (2011). Understanding Children’s Development. United Kingdom: Wiley. Yang, C. (2013). Ontogeny and phylogeny of language. PNAS, 110 (16) 6324-6327.

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