Question 1

Researchers suggest that language function and language form:
A) are learned as independent functions.
B) develop parallel, one to the other.
C) are interconnected.
D) are not clearly understood.

Accepted Answer

Language form (grammar) and language function (communication) are interconnected. In order to effectively communicate using language, individuals must understand the grammatical rules of the language being used. Similarly, the grammatical rules of a language are developed through the need for effective communication. Therefore, language function and form develop concurrently and are interdependent.

Question 2

Research about early communicative behavior indicates that
A) an infant's ability to develop language is determined by the nature of response to his or her attempts to communication.
B) the attempt to communicate demonstrates an innate ability to acquire language.
C) pointing is a precursor to the acquisition of language.
D) before they have formal language, infants are communicative beings.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that before infants acquire formal language skills, they are already communicative beings. They use nonverbal cues such as eye contact, facial expressions, and vocalizations to interact with caregivers and others. This early communicative behavior sets the foundation for later language development. While factors such as response to communication attempts and innate language ability may also play a role, the importance of early communication cannot be overlooked. Pointing has been identified as an important milestone in early communication, as it allows infants to direct attention and request objects or information.

Question 3

Young children use speech acts at the one-word stage:
A) with different functions from adults.
B) in a wider range than adults.
C) eith similar functions as adults.
D) None of these answers.

Accepted Answer

Young children at the one-word stage use speech acts for similar functions as adults, such as requesting, rejecting, commenting, etc., but with limited linguistic resources.

Question 4

Mothers in Western cultures:
A) frequently parallel their child's smiles, burps, and other noises to build communication.
B) expect their children to communicate in response to their talk.
C) draw infants into communication through pointing, play and song.
D) develop intricate personal communication with their infants before they talk.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Mothers in Western cultures:
A) frequently parallel their...

Question 5

Research on pragmatic development suggests that:
A) the first communicative functions expressed by children are similar to adult's language.
B) communicative functions develop in the first few years just as language develops.
C) children use single-word utterances to express language functions.
D) children use gestures and sounds together when communicating.

Accepted Answer

Research on pragmatic development has shown that communicative functions, such as requesting, protesting, and commenting, develop in the first few years of life, concurrent with the development of language. The first communicative functions expressed by children may not be identical to those of adults, but they serve similar purposes. Children also use a combination of sounds, gestures, and words to communicate, rather than relying solely on single-word utterances (C) or gestures (D).

Question 6

Protoimperative and protodeclarative behavior is:
A) the same in adults and children.
B) different in adults and children.
C) similar to the locutionary phase of child language development.
D) considered a phase of speech act development.

Accepted Answer

Protoimperative behavior refers to a child's use of gestures, vocalizations, or words to request an object, action, or attention from others, while protodeclarative behavior refers to a child's use of gestures, vocalizations, or words to direct another person's attention to an object or event in the environment. These behaviors are different in adults and children and are considered a phase of language development in children. The locutionary phase refers to the stage of language development where children produce their first meaningful words and phrases.

Question 7

Children's use of gesture:
A) demonstrates the child's communicative interest prior to using formal language.
B) has little relationship to the language development that follows.
C) is formed by cultural and linguistic rules in his or her mother tongue.
D) is an arbitrary form of using symbolic communication.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that children's use of gesture precedes and facilitates the development of formal language. Therefore, gesture demonstrates the child's communicative interest prior to using formal language.

Answer: C 
 Children's use of gesture is closely related to their mother tongue and cultural norms. Different cultures and language groups have different rules for using gestures to convey meaning.

Therefore, the best choices are A and C.

Question 8

Illocutionary refers to:
A) communication to a listener that is produced with intention .
B) a phase of communication in early childhood development.
C) communication to a listener that is produced without intention.
D) communication that occurs in infanthood.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Illocutionary refers to:
A) communication to a listener...

Question 9

The "reach of speech" refers to:
A) topics the children talk about.
B) what the children ask for.
C) how the children propose a location for a known act on a known object.
D) how the children request continuation of a new activity.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The "reach of speech" refers to:
A) topics...

Question 10

Children expand their use of language functions:
A) at a slow rate between 10 and 22 months of life.
B) at a faster rate when given increased attention.
C) by using a greater number of linguistic forms and a grater range of intentions in the second year of life.
D) by using less linguistic forms and a greater rate of intentions in the second year of life.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Children expand their use of language functions:
A)...

Question 11

Connected discourse refers to:
A) taking turns in speech.
B) telling stories.
C) using bridges between topics.
D) extending speech beyond single sentences.

Accepted Answer

Connected discourse is characterized by extending speech beyond single sentences, which involves creating coherent and cohesive speech or text that spans multiple sentences, thereby forming paragraphs, conversations, or longer texts.

Question 12

A summary of speech act development indicates that:
A) perlocutionary speech occurs in Phase 2 from birth to 10 months
B) illocutionary speech occurs in Period 1 from 10 to 12 months
C) locutonary speech occurs in Phase 3 from 12 months, onward
D) locutionary speech occurs in Period 3, from 10 months, onward

Accepted Answer

The answer of A summary of speech act development indicates...

Question 13

Noam Chomsky's perspective on the language acquisition device indicates that:
A) children are born with natural language learning mechanisms.
B) some kinds of language learning experiences may cause the device to go into operation, but do not affect the operation itself.
C) there is a parallel between wanting to communicate and learning grammar.
D) the infants' ability to learn language is dependent on wanting to communicate.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Noam Chomsky's perspective on the language acquisition...

Question 14

Intentionality refers to:
A) using language to create a belief in the listener's mind.
B) children's prelinguistic communicative behavior.
C) automatic responses to infants' internal states.
D) the nature of children's communication at birth.

Accepted Answer

Intentionality in communication refers to the speaker's intention to create a belief or response in the listener's mind, which aligns with choice A.

Question 15

Perlocutionary refers to:
A) communication to a listener that is produced with intention .
B) a phase of communication in early childhood development.
C) communication to a listener that is produced without intention.
D) communication that occurs in infanthood.

Accepted Answer

Perlocutionary refers to communication that affects the listener and is produced without the speaker's intention, often seen in early stages of communication development.

Question 16

Research on the role of joint attention and child language development:
A) supports the view that joint attention skills parallel child motor skill development.
B) suggests that mothers of children with autism do not follow their child's eye gaze.
C) indicates that it is possible that joint attention skills and language development are not interrelated.
D) indicates that rapid growth of skills to gain joint attention may directly relate to rapid development of language.

Accepted Answer

Research has found that joint attention skills and language development are strongly interrelated. Specifically, children who acquire joint attention skills more rapidly also tend to show more rapid development in language skills. This is likely because joint attention involves the ability to coordinate attention, which is essential for language acquisition, as language requires the child to attend to the sounds and meanings of spoken words.

Question 17

The Gricean maxim regarding relation refers to:
A) being as relevant as you can for most of the time.
B) maintaining clarity with brief, orderly and unambiguous statements.
C) contributing truthfulness to conversation.
D) being as informative as possible without giving too much information.

Accepted Answer

The Gricean maxim regarding relation refers to being as relevant as you can for most of the time. It suggests that we should only say what is related to the topic of conversation and avoid irrelevant information.

Question 18

Researchers examine communication function in terms of how it:
A) leads to acquiring language form.
B) forms the basis for learning language forms.
C) acts independently of language form in child language acquisition.
D) All of these answers are true.

Accepted Answer

Communication function is integral to language acquisition, influencing the learning of language forms, serving as a foundation for this learning, and operating in conjunction with language form development in children.

Question 19

That mothers are responsible for child language acquisition is:
A) a view largely unsupported by child language researchers.
B) shown in evidence on older children and their language development.
C) not a focus of studies in child language research.
D) relevant only for children in the early stages of development.

Accepted Answer

The answer of That mothers are responsible for child language...

Question 20

The view that children acquire language in order to express what they are thinking to share experiences is held by:
A) L. Bloom (1993)
B) Snow (1999)
C) L. Bloom (1993) and Snow (1999)
D) Hoff (2006), L. Bloom (1993) and Snow (1999)

Accepted Answer

Both L. Bloom (1993) and Snow (1999) hold the view that children acquire language to express what they are thinking and to share experiences.

Quiz 3: Communicative Development: Foundations and Functions of Language

Researchers suggest that language function and language form:

Research about early communicative behavior indicates that

Young children use speech acts at the one-word stage:

Mothers in Western cultures:

Research on pragmatic development suggests that:

Protoimperative and protodeclarative behavior is:

Children's use of gesture:

Illocutionary refers to:

The "reach of speech" refers to:

Children expand their use of language functions:

Connected discourse refers to:

A summary of speech act development indicates that:

Noam Chomsky's perspective on the language acquisition device indicates that:

Intentionality refers to:

Perlocutionary refers to:

Research on the role of joint attention and child language development:

The Gricean maxim regarding relation refers to:

Researchers examine communication function in terms of how it:

That mothers are responsible for child language acquisition is:

The view that children acquire language in order to express what they are thinking to share experiences is held by: