MEANING, THOUGHT and REALITY in children’s

speech.

Alline RodriguesCristiane GomesVanessa Carmo

• Language?

• Sign’s System – Social part of communication (Saussure, 1969)

• Competence and Performance (Chomsky, 1957)

Language Acquisition

• EMPIRICISM

1.Behaviorism: S – A – R2.Connectionism ; Imput

and Output

Language Acquisition

• RATIONALISM

1.Innatism2.Constructivism

Importance?

• Comprehend the learning proccess.

• Students’ difficulties.

• Planning classes.

• Language studies.

Categorical concepts

Semantic feature hypothesis (Clark, 1974)

• Perceptual features.• From general to specific.

» E.g.: dog – four legs, head, furry...has a tail, barks.

Functional core hypothesis (Nelson, 1974)

• Objects seen as a whole.• Focus on instances, function.

»E. g.: doll – play with, cuddle it, feed it.

Prototype theory (Rosch, 1973)

• Typical features.• Common characteristics.

»E.g.: A robin is a more typical bird than a penguin.

Overextension and Underextension

• Overextension: broad use.»E.g.: Calling all four-legged animal a “dog”.

• Underxtension: restrict use.»E.g.: Calling only the family

dog a “dog”.

“What are values?”

• “It’s the money you have to pay to buy something“

• Love.• Responsability.• Friendship.• Respect.

“Give examples of opposites”:

• “Thin and skinny”• “Fat and skinny”• “Tall and short”• “Wake up and sleep”

• “Stand up and sit down”• “Full and empty”

• “A tree with apples and a tree with no apples”

“How can I answer the question: “how are

you?” ?”:• “I’m fine.”• “I’m happy.”• “I’m so so.”• “I’m ok.”

• “I’m sorry.”

“What are means of transportation?”

• “Car.”• “Bus.”• “Submarine.”

• “Electric things.”

“Give me examples of bugs.”

• “Ladybug.”• “Butterfly.”• “Cricket”• “Bee”

• “Sticker”• “Bunny bunny”

“Why is the ‘bad wolf’ bad?”

• “Porque ele queria pegar a grandma.”

• “Porque ele assustou a Chapeuzinho.”

• “Porque ele queria comer a Chapeuzinho.”

• “Porque ele queria comer a grandma e a Chapeuzinho.”• “Porque a Chapeuzinho correu.”• “Porque a Chapeuzinho ficou

triste.”

“If the Wolf were good, he would...

• “Tomar banho, fazer o jantar...”

• “Ia brincar com a Chapeuzinho.”

• “Ia dormir.”

“What is ‘bad’?”

• “Quem faz coisa errada.”

• “Quando alguém bagunça.”

• “Amarrar a grandma.”

• “Fazer coisa feia.”

“What is ‘ugly’?”

“Why do I call Lorena an ‘old lady’?”