Language typically develops using visual and auditory functions and experiences.
ID: 3525336 • Letter: L
Question
Language typically develops using visual and auditory functions and experiences. In unusual cases such as that of Helen Keller who could not hear nor see, a person may learn language in alternative ways and forms. Anne Sullivan taught her language by tracing the shape of letters into her hand and eventually teaching her to make a connection to some stimuli she experienced. For example, she would spell “WATER” into her hand then run water over her hand. She learned to communicate in various forms including sign language, Braille, and eventually to speak and “hear” with her hands placed on a person’s face to sense vibrations. Keller was 19 months old before loosing her sense of hearing and sight. Given the concepts of language development as well as typical visual and auditory functions that contribute to it, explain how you believe Keller was able to develop her language abilities. Would her infant experiences explain the ability to develop language, or are there perhaps other developmental basis that may have helped her develop her linguistic abilities. Be sure to refer to the terms and concepts of language development in your answer.
You may find it helpful to view the following video of Sullivan explaining how one technique was used to teach Helen Keller. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnNbcHvNUr8 (copy and paste into browser).
Explanation / Answer
LANGUAUGE DEVELOPMENT:
As Human beings we learn language from our childhood which initially begins with,
Phonemes - Babbling sounds like, "Aaah" or "Naah" when the child actually means a 'yes' or 'no'
Morphemes - Single word utterenes like, "mamma" or "dadda" When the child refers to Mom or Dad
Semantics - Learning to use the meaning of words. The child might say, "milk" when he feels hungry
Syntax - The child begins to use sentences that might be grammatically incorrect like, "I cookie", when the child actually wants to say, "I want a cookie".
Pragmatics - It is use of appropriate sentences in particular social situation. The child might initially order the parents like, "Give me the toy!", but then he is said to ask politely for what he wants, then he might say, "Please give me the toy"
Such incidents could be very commonly noted as a child grows up and begins to talk. But how are these incorrect and incomplete sentences uttered by the child develops in to a complete language?
According to the Behaviourists, language is learned in the same way as other behaviours are learnt. B.F.Skinner explained that the language is learnt when the child's correct pronunciations and grammatically correct sentences are reinforced by appreciating their attempts to talk. Thus the child tend to repeat those words and sentences that are been approved by their parents and significant others, thus language is acquired.
In case of Helen Keller, who could neither see or hear since her 19 months of age, she might not had such normal language aquisition as the other childs do. Eventhough she might have started the initial stages of learning language such as, babbling and uttering few words within her 19 months of age, she might have gradually forgotten it as she never practised it thereafter since she was disabled after that.
But with the guidance of Anne Sullivan, who was Helen's teacher, she learnt language using the sense of touch. She felt the world around her with her hands, and she even learnt language through her hands!. She would touch and feel every aspect of the objects such as the shape, size, texture and also people around her by feeling the features of their faces.
Through this sense of touch, Anne taught Helen to feel the vibrations through her hands, and Helen was able to understand what Anne was telling when she learned how each sound made distinct vibrations in the face. Helen placed her thumb on Anne's throat, her index finger on Anne's lips and her middle finger on Anne's nose and she was able to differentiate between different phonetic sounds made by Anne when she spoke.
After a period of time and practise, Helen also started to use language. She was able to understand and communicate what others were talking by placing her hands over their face and she also responded by answering to them. Helen also acquired language in the same way as other people do, but the only difference was that, she learnt language through touching and sensing vibrations rather than hearing it.
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