Language Acquisition Definition

Summary

Language acquisition is the human process of developing the ability to perceive, understand, produce, and use language for communication. It involves learning the structures and rules of language, including phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and vocabulary. Language may be spoken or signed, and the human capacity for recursion allows people to create and understand an effectively unlimited number of sentences. The term usually refers to first-language acquisition, including the development of a child’s native spoken or sign language and the simultaneous acquisition of two native languages. Speech perception generally develops before speech production, and language knowledge develops gradually, beginning with distinctions between sounds. Researchers explain acquisition through competing and complementary perspectives, including innate linguistic abilities, environmental input, social interaction, statistical learning, and general cognitive processes. This distinguishes first-language acquisition from second-language acquisition, which concerns learning additional languages.

Key Points

• 1

  Language acquisition is the process of gaining the ability to understand and use language.

• 2

  It requires learning phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and vocabulary.

• 3

  Language can be acquired through speech or sign, and children may acquire one or two native languages.

• 4

  Speech perception typically precedes speech production, with development occurring gradually from sound distinctions to more complex linguistic structures.

• 5

  The nature–nurture debate concerns the relative contributions of innate human abilities and environmental experience.

• 6

  First-language acquisition differs from second-language acquisition, which involves learning an additional language.