First Language Acquisition Presentation by Cassandra Schwartz and

First Language Acquisition Presentation by Cassandra Schwartz and Nick Laskowski EDUC 253 – Prof. Mc. Elvain 1/30/2008

The Studied Child Name: “Austin” Age: 34 months Background: Child has one brother aged 6 and is expecting another sibling in 5 months. Both parents speak English only and both have attended college.

Right There

Right There • “Right dare!” • “Right there!” • Child switches phoneme “d” for “th” in there.

Salt Mouse

Salt Mouse • “Sauce? . . . Nope. ” • “Salt!” • “Sauce? . . . Nope. ” “Salt” • Child misidentifies salt as sauce, but recognizes mistake.

I Need to Find This!

I Need to Find This! • “I nee-ah fie gis. ” • “I need to find this. ” • Child omits “d” phonemes. • Child omits the word “to. ” • Child omits phoneme “th. ”

Search for the Rolling Pin

Search for the Rolling Pin • “You seed it? ” • “You saw it? ” • Child uses “seed” instead of “saw. ”

Soup

Soup • “Yeah, I, I know. ” • “Shoup. ” • “Yeah, I know. ” “Soup. ” • Child inserts extra word “I. ” • Child switches phoneme “sh” for “s. ”

Wheels on the Bus

Wheels on the Bus • “Wound and wound, wound and wound. Bus’d go wound and wound. All Chrissmas day. ” • • • “Round and round, round and round. The wheels on the bus go round and round. All through the day. ” Child inserts phoneme “w” in round, and “d” at end of bus. Child omits the words “Wheels on the bus” during the second verse. Child mumbles words, confusing Christmas carols with nursery rhymes. Child uses slang word “da” instead of the.

Observed Language Patterns The child grasps words easily, approaching correct morphology. Beginning syntax: many sentence-forming mistakes. Phonological omissions continue, especially with “th” and “d” sounds. Child mimics brother's speech patterns.

Stage of Language Acquisition – Child is in the “telegraphic speech” stage, but on his way to “elaboration. ” – Uses longer sentences about subjects he is comfortable with i. e. familiar nursery songs. – Becoming more familiar with the rules of syntax, but still relies on one word sentences: “there!” – Has not mastered certain phonemes, especially “th” - tends to substitute the