Essay - Bilingual First Language Acquisition Introduction Research and Analysis Bilingual Paradox...

Bilingual First Language Acquisition

Introduction

Research and Analysis

Bilingual Paradox

Bilingual Deficit Hypothesis

Unitary Language System Hypothesis

***** Advantage Hypothesis

Differentiated Language System Hypothesis

Vocabulary Development

The MacArthur CDI

***** Milestones

***** Identifiers

***** Equivalents

Interlocutor Sensitivity

***** Choice

*****

Parental Discourse Strategies

***** Constraints

*****

Bibliography

Introduction

It is common knowledge that all over the globe young children seem to effortlessly acquire two or more languages at one time. Yet some uphold ***** belief th***** children who are exposed to multiple languages too early (with the dividing line as to what ***** "too early" being a gray area) may experience developmental language delays and/or confusion. Scientific research h***** attempted to examine whether young bilinguals can ascertain that they are acquiring ***** separate and distinct languages early on. (Wats*****, 1996) We will examine the criteria for measuring early language development, the concepts associated ***** ascertaining a child's ***** progress, the rese*****rch supporting the prevailing theories and the significant findings inherent in credible research in these *****as.

Research and *****

Bil*****gual Paradox

***** line of thought that resembles popular opinion about whether or not children should be raised bilingual from birth is c*****ed the "Bilingual Paradox." It is a p*****radox ********** there are conflicting contemporary theories ***** whether or not it is the preferred method of introducing two languages. While much research shows that, by several measures, ***** who ***** exposed to two ***** simultaneously between the ages of zero and three achieve maj***** milestones w*****hin the same *****frame and with similar results as monolinguals, ***** ***** line ***** thought has been to teach a child one language early on, reserving the introduction of a second language for the later school years. The thinking associated with ***** latter opinion is that introducing ***** *****s early on ***** confuse the child, or that the child will be disadvantaged in mastery of ***** ***** both languages. There are, however, steps parents can take early on based ***** proven research to give *****ir child an advantage in learning language skills. Methodologies, **********, timing mechanisms and support strategies have been developed through testing and observation that aids children in successful and timely language development, specifically ***** the adoption of ***** languages.

***** Deficit Hypo*****sis

***** of the *****ories regarding bilingualism ***** its detrimental effects on children's language development is called the "Bilingual ***** Hypothes*****." According to this theory, being ***** to and learning two ***** equally during language development requires more effort and causes more stress for children. Because of this, there is a fear that bilingual*****m delays children's initial production of the precursors ***** speech. One of ***** notions ***** with ***** concept is the "babbling drift" hypothesis. ***** to this theory, when children begin to babble in their first two years of life, their sounds resemble the phonemes of their caregivers' language duality, without regard for substance. While some researchers ***** found predictable phonemic differences among babies ***** caregivers with different language backgrounds, others have found no evidence of acoustic *****iation among such