A new language is difficult to learn. In reality, studies have shown that it gets significantly harder to learn a new language after early childhood. However, kids are quite good at picking up new languages. They seem to naturally understand grammar and syntax and pick up language quickly. Yet how?
Language acquisition theory was created by Noam Chomsky to explain this occurrence. Chomsky asserts that language acquisition is a natural talent. He names it a language acquisition device, and it is present in all newborns. Theoretically speaking, a language acquisition device is a tool. It is used as evidence for how quickly youngsters pick up language and comprehend it. This area of the brain is not physically present like hypothalamus or medulla oblongata.
The term "language acquisition device" (LAD) refers to a broad range of intricate mechanisms that the brain uses to acquire new languages. Humans have evolved a complex language with structure and norms in comparison to other species. One of the causes of this is LAD.
While Chomsky has developed a new theory that is called universal grammar, language acquisition theory continues to have an impact on the study of language. The notion that LAD exists is the foundation of universal grammar. It essentially contends that human beings can recognize universal grammar rules in languages all around the world. Noam Chomsky, a renowned linguist, asserts that people are biologically wired to learn, speak, and comprehend language. According to his theory, infants are born with LAD mechanism, which contains the grammatical rules for language development. However, babies and young children need stimulation to activate the LAD, and as they grow older, they must learn vocabulary to communicate effectively.
Parenting is all about communicating with your child. Positive two-way communication is essential to building your child’s self-esteem. While children thrive with words of encouragement and praise, listening to your child boosts their self-esteem and enables them to feel worthy and loved. It is worth remembering that children can understand language long before they can master speech. You can keep up with your child’s evolving language development by paying daily attention to them.If you set up clear and open communication patterns with your child in their early years, you are setting up good practices for the future. Establishing open and transparent communication patterns with your child early on will help them develop strong communication skills.
Early childhood experiences have a significant impact on a child's capacity to control stress, feel confident, and motivate themselves in the future. A person's perception of who they are and how they feel about their place in their family and community is known as their "self-concept." Between the ages of two and six, this starts to develop. In order to develop a child's positive self-concept, parents and kids must have healthy connections. A youngster who is continuously evaluated, condemned, and criticised may have a poor self-concept as an adult.
A youngster will acquire social and interpersonal abilities along with communication skills through interaction and play with siblings and friends. These abilities will help them feel more at ease in social situations, making it simpler for them to talk to peers and create new acquaintances. They will improve their listening abilities, empathy, and capacity for deciphering non-verbal clues through these partnerships.
When a child starts school, they will regularly participate in presentations, class discussions, dramatisations, and oral exams, all of which directly rely on their verbal communication skills. They may also be required to attend an interview as part of the application process when applying to a secondary school or sixth form. You want a child to feel at ease in these settings, not just speaking in front of a group of people or making a new friend, but also knowing that they can communicate clearly and effectively. A child who is strong at communicating vocally will find it simpler to make written communications, and will thus probably perform better on writing tasks and tests for school.
It is crucial for parents to be able to interact with their kids in an honest and effective manner. Every family member benefits from open and effective communication, not only the kids. When parents and kids are able to communicate effectively, relationships between them get much better. In general, if parents and their kids have strong communication, their relationships will be as well.
These characteristics are incorporated and learned as a subject to provide in depth insights and understanding of communication with young children in the program of Diploma in Early Childhood Education offered by the Centre for Education & Language at MAHSA University. Therefore, if you find reading this article interesting, you will find that there are more to discovery by enrolling for this program. For students who take early childhood education, it is mandatory to study the fields of psychology, sociology, philosophy of education and pedagogy so that they can become teachers and parents who have good knowledge. Based on this knowledge, they will practice in the future whether at home or at school. They will know various theories about early childhood education and be able to give a good approach with people around them, whether with children or adults.
Words by:
Nura
Lecturer, Centre for Education & Language
MAHSA University
Nura
Lecturer, Centre for Education & Language
MAHSA University