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Cunning linguists

Are there any books that details step by step the English Language in child developmental terms?

13 replies

StarlightMcKenzie · 26/04/2014 09:34

If I were to teach a robot or an alien to speak English and they have no prior language or communication of any kind, does such a book/curriculum exist?

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littleducks · 26/04/2014 09:36

Do you want a manual type book or one discussing milestones and things through the ages?

StarlightMcKenzie · 26/04/2014 09:38

Manual type book. Thanks for replying. Not so interested in the history. Imagine I was training an orangutan and aiming for indistinguishable from humans.

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littleducks · 26/04/2014 09:40

Have a look at language builders by Elkan. There are several books and it does get expensive though.

elklantraining.worldsecuresystems.com/5-11s/language-builders

littleducks · 26/04/2014 09:44

In fact I would have a good browse through the Elkan website. Depending on your starting point you might find other things more useful. Language steps has also been recommended to me:

elklantraining.worldsecuresystems.com/5-11s/language-steps

StarlightMcKenzie · 26/04/2014 09:49

Thank you. That looks very interesting. I might see if I can get hold of a copy.

However, what I was really looking for was more of a tick box about WHAT, rather than how or strategies. I know nothing about language or grammar and need something that labels the various parts, plus the order that it would be most effective to learn it in, plus an assessment to check it has been learnt. No need for 'generalising', in fact the less generalising and the more specific the better.

Really like I was teaching a robot with no cognitive functioning or extrapolation skills iyswim.

So more a manual of what the English Language is, and the order you can build it iyswim.

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StarlightMcKenzie · 26/04/2014 09:51

I'll have a look around that site though. Thank you for pointing it out.

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littleducks · 26/04/2014 09:58

Ok (that's what I meant by milestones but I realise it sounds like history using 'through the ages' sorry).

maybe try: Robert Owens book:
www.amazon.com/Language-Development-Introduction-Communication-Disorders/dp/013258252X

There is a linked website (I haven't used it) that might help you get an idea.
wps.ablongman.com/ab_owens_langdevelop_7/

meditrina · 26/04/2014 09:58

You're describing whole modules of degree courses!

I'll have a think. Would an introductory text book on computational linguistics be a way in to 'what do you need to know to know a language'? It takes the approach of working out what a language is, and wht you have to 'teach' a computer to make it able to use language (eg produce novel sentences).

StarlightMcKenzie · 26/04/2014 10:03

If I have to I'll DO a whole degree module.

That might be helpful meditrina. It could be exactly what I'm after, though I'm not actually interested in HOW you programme in the same way as I'm not interested in HOW you would teach. It is more the WHAT.

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meditrina · 26/04/2014 10:07

Jurafsky and Martin textbook might be worth a look.

CountessOfRule · 26/04/2014 10:08

You're starting from the position that it's possible for a robot or other non-human to become completely native and fluent in a natural human language, even assuming anatomy permits the required articulation.

It doesn't appear to be even theoretically possible - because natural human language is infinitely combinatory, every speaker is capable of a completely original remark, and of interpreting every original remark in its context, which might include factors external to the conversation (relationships, cultural references, societal norms, past events, temper, tone, volume, etc). Although a robot can learn the phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics of natural language, pragmatics does not appear to be achievable because it involves an understanding of the human experience, which we know to be personal and indescribable. And as for the higher apes, they don't have enough of the right kind of brain tissue for certain required operations such as theory of mind.

However, if you want the best possible then for a robot you'd look at a purely theoretical approach - like a university-level linguistics degree, including the acoustics of sound production; the rules of combination including word types, verb endings and plurals, word order, idioms, etc; a reasonably comprehensive lexicon...

... whereas for higher primates that is all impossible and you teach them as you teach a child, by repeated exposure. So far they appear to stall at the level of a toddler, where the other cognitive functions (referring to absent things for example, or projecting others' experiences and adjusting accordingly, etc) do not develop.

Some very interesting work exists here regarding the language of children with certain SN or brain damage, and the language deficit in adults following brain injury or degeneration.

StarlightMcKenzie · 26/04/2014 18:02

Thank you countess!

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apermanentheadache · 16/05/2014 22:38

Stephen Pinker's book The Language Instinct might interest you. Lots in there about how children learn language.

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