PSY-4660: Theories of Development

Read pgs. 93 – 97 of Chapter 3 from Lally, M. & Valentine-French, S. (2019). Lifespan Development: A Psychological Perspective
This reading provides an introduction to the major theories of language development – biological theories and learning theories.

Garcia, E. E. & Nanez, J. E. (2011). Cognitive theories and their perspectives on language. In E. E. Garcia & J. E. Nanez (Eds.), Bilingualism and cognition: Informing research, pedagogy, and policy (pp. 39–55). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
This chapter focuses on a variety of language development theories, including interactionist perspectives, which combine the influences of biology and learning to explain language development.

Morgan G. (2014). Critical period in language development. In P. J. Brooks & V. Kempe (Eds.), Encyclopedia of language development (pp. 116-118). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. doi: 10.4135/9781483346441.n36
This resource discusses the idea that there is a critical period for language development. As you are reading consider how this idea is related to biological and learning theories of language.

Soderstrom M. (2014). Child-directed speech (features of). In P. J. Brooks & V. Kempe (Eds.), Encyclopedia of language development (pp. 83-85). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.
This resource discusses the impact of child-directed speech on language development. As you are reading consider how this idea is related to biological and learning theories of language.

Broesch, T. L. & Bryant, G. A. (2015). Communicative intentions of child-directed speech in three different learning environments: Observations from the Netherlands, and rural and urban Mozambique. First Language, 35(4-5), 341 – 358.
This article explores infant-directed speech in various cultures and the impact it has on language development. This highlights the impact parents can have on their child’s language learning.

Pang, Y. (2012). Becoming fluent in two languages: When and how? New England Reading Association Newsletter, 3(2), 51 – 55.
This article explores bilingualism in children and the impact of learning two languages during childhood.