scholarly journals In Prototypical Autism, the Genetic Ability to Learn Language Is Triggered by Structured Information, Not Only by Exposure to Oral Language

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1112
Author(s):  
Laurent Mottron ◽  
Alexia Ostrolenk ◽  
David Gagnon
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Oral Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Musical Composition ◽  
Strong Argument ◽  
Social Language ◽  
Structure Detection ◽  
Musical Interpretation ◽  
Structured Information

What does the way that autistic individuals bypass, learn, and eventually master language tell us about humans’ genetically encoded linguistic ability? In this theoretical review, we argue that autistic non-social acquisition of language and autistic savant abilities provide a strong argument for an innate, human-specific orientation towards (and mastery of) complex embedded structures. Autistic non-social language learning may represent a widening of the material processed during development beyond oral language. The structure detection and manipulation and generative production of non-linguistic embedded and chained material (savant abilities in calendar calculation, musical composition, musical interpretation, and three-dimensional drawing) may thus represent an application of such innate mechanisms to non-standard materials. Typical language learning through exposure to the child’s mother tongue may represent but one of many possible achievements of the same capacity. The deviation from typical language development in autism may ultimately allow access to oral language, sometimes in its most elaborate forms, and also explain the possibility of the absence of its development when applied exclusively to non-linguistic structured material. Such an extension of human capacities beyond or in parallel to their usual limits call into question what we consider to be specific or expected in humans and therefore does not necessarily represent a genetic “error”. Regardless of the adaptive success or failure of non-social language learning, it is the duty of science and ethical principles to strive to maintain autism as a human potentiality to further foster our vision of a plural society.

scholarly journals In Prototypical Autism, the Genetic Ability to Learn Language is Triggered by Structured Information, not Only by Exposure to Oral Language

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Mottron ◽  
Alexia Ostrolenk ◽  
David Gagnon
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Oral Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Musical Composition ◽  
Strong Argument ◽  
Social Language ◽  
Structure Detection ◽  
Plural Society ◽  
Structured Information

What does the way autistics bypass, learn, and eventually master language tell us about humans’ genetically encoded linguistic ability? In this theoretical review, we argue that autistic non-social acquisition of language, as well as autistic savant abilities, provide a strong argument for an innate, human-specific orientation toward (and mastery of) complex embedded structures. Autistic non-social language learning may represent a widening of the material processed during development beyond oral language. Structure detection and manipulation and generative production of non-linguistic embedded and chained material (savant abilities in calendar calculation, musical composition and interpretation, three-dimensional drawing) may thus represent an application of such innate mechanisms to non-standard materials. Typical language learning through exposure to the child’s mother tongue may represent but one of many possible achievements of the same capacity. The deviation from typical language development in autism may ultimately allow access to oral language, sometimes in its most elaborate forms, but also explains the possibility of the absence of its development when applied exclusively to non-linguistic structured material. Such an extension of human capacities beyond, or in parallel to, their usual limits call into question what we consider to be specific or expected in humans and, therefore, does not necessarily represent a genetic “error”. Regardless of the adaptive success or failure of non-social language learning, it is up to science and ethical principles to strive to maintain autism as a human potentiality to further foster our vision of a plural society.

scholarly journals Compliant Role of Task Based Instruction Approach and Extensive Reading Method in Children Foreign Language Learning

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gholam Reza Parvizi ◽  
Yasser Saremi ◽  
Majid Ghazi ◽  
Ali Reza Kargar
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Oral Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Extensive Reading ◽  
Text Book ◽  
Based Instruction ◽  
Learning English

<p>At the beginning levels of learning English, one of the difficulties students or children encounter in learning to is making correspondences between spoken and written English. In many cases, children have become acquainted with oral language and have some difficulty learning English conventions. They need hints and explanations about certain English orthographic rules and peculiarities. Students of English even those who have not so far learned to read in their mother tongue, will take advantage from learning to read from the start of connection with a foreign or second language. This conception forms the argumentation that the researcher seeks for throughout this article. The researcher begins with reviewing basic methods of teaching reading, before reporting on and expounding the results of a pilot study of learning by day care center children. The study indicated that the early preview to extensive reading (ER) promotes their progress in understanding and speech of the foreign language. The researcher suggests that text – based programs or instruction (TBI) extracted from text book with correspondent recordings should be developed as a choice both for children and some teachers.</p>

scholarly journals Widening Inborn Constraints for Language Ability: The Case for Autism

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Mottron ◽  
Alexia Ostrolenk ◽  
David Gagnon
Keyword(s):  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Strong Argument ◽  
Social Language ◽  
Genetic Constraints ◽  
Plural Society ◽  
Legal Policies ◽  
Specific Orientation ◽  
Linguistic Material ◽  
Human Specific

What does the way autistics bypass, learn, and eventually master language tell us about human linguistic ability? Here, we argue that non-social acquisition of language, in addition to representing a strong argument for nativist models of human language, may be encompassed within the human-specific orientation and mastery of complex embedded structures, of which language represents one realization. Non-social language learning could thus represent the extension of available linguistic, and non-linguistic material processed by human genetic constraints, allowing language acquisition. This deviation from typical developmental language acquisition may ultimately allow access to language, sometimes in its most elaborate forms, and also explains the possibility of the absence of its development when applied to primarily non-linguistic structured material. However, such enlargement of material-specificity does not cast doubts about its human nature. Regardless of the adaptive success or failure of non-social language learning, it is up to science, legal policies, and ethical principles to strive to maintain autism as a human potentiality to further foster our vision of a plural society.

FIRST AND SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING THROUGH TEXTBOOKS IN ALBANIAN SCHOOLS (COMPARATIVE OVERVIEW OF ALBANIAN AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEXTBOOKS)

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 2319-2324
Author(s):  
Rina Muka ◽  
Irida Hoti
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Second Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
First Language ◽  
Grammatical Knowledge ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
The Third

The language acquired from the childhood is the language spoken in the family and in the place of living. This language is different from one pupil to another, because of their social, economical conditions. By starting the school the pupil faces first the ABC book and then in the second grade Albanian language learning through the Albanian language textbook. By learning Albanian language step by step focused on Reading, Writing, Speaking and Grammar the pupil is able to start learning the second language on the next years of schooling. So, the second language learning in Albanian schools is related to the first language learning (mother tongue), since the early years in primary school. In our schools, the second language (English, Italian) starts in the third grade of the elementary class. On the third grade isn’t taught grammar but the pupil is directed toward the correct usage of the language. The textbooks are structured in developing the pupil’s critical thinking. The textbooks are fully illustrated and with attractive and educative lessons adequate to the age of the pupils. This comparative study will reflect some important aspects of language learning in Albanian schools (focused on Albanian language - first language and English language - second language), grade 3-6. Our point of view in this paper will show not only the diversity of the themes, the lines and the sub-lines but also the level of language knowledge acquired at each level of education. First, the study will focus on some important issues in comparing Albanian and English language texts as well as those which make them different: chronology and topics retaken from one level of education to another, so by conception of linear and chronological order will be shown comparatively two learned languages (mother tongue and second language). By knowing and learning well mother tongue will be easier for the pupil the foreign language learning. The foreign language (as a learning curriculum) aims to provide students with the skills of using foreign language written and spoken to enable the literature to recognize the achievements of advanced world science and technology that are in the interest of developing our technique. Secondly, the study will be based on the extent of grammatical knowledge, their integration with 'Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing' as well as the inclusion of language games and their role in language learning. The first and second language learning in Albanian schools (grade III-VI) is based on similar principles for the linearity and chronology of grammatical knowledge integrated with listening, reading, writing and speaking. The different structure of both books help the pupils integrate and use correctly both languages. In the end of the sixth grade, the pupils have good knowledge of mother tongue and the second language and are able to write and speak well both languages.

L’acquisition de la langue orale par l’entremise de tâches de centres d’apprentissage de littératie dans des classes d’immersion française

2021 ◽  
pp. e20200116
Author(s):  
Josée Le Bouthillier ◽  
Renée Bourgoin ◽  
Joseph Dicks
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Oral Language ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Pedagogical Practices ◽  
Independent Learning ◽  
French Immersion ◽  
Oral Production ◽  
Learning Tasks ◽  
Language Literacy

This qualitative exploratory study examined the language/literacy tasks performed by elementary students from six elementary French Immersion (FI) classrooms. Various literacy tasks were performed as students rotated through different literacy centres/stations which had been pre-planned by their teachers. Specifically, researchers investigated students’ oral production and opportunities for extended oral output when working at independent learning centres/stations in order to identify key principles for creating literacy-enhancing tasks suitable for developing language literacy skills within second language (L2) contexts. Data were collected through classroom observations ( n = 23) to identify the types of literacy/language tasks proposed to L2 students, the nature of communicative functions, the targeted learning outcomes, and principles of effective L2 learning tasks. Results demonstrate the importance of adapting pedagogical practices, such as literacy centres/stations, borrowed from the first language teaching contexts to maximize L2 literacy/language learning and meet the specific needs of FI students. Results also highlighted the importance of ongoing professional learning opportunities for FI teachers specific to their L2 teaching contexts. Researchers propose principles for creating literacy/language tasks that promote oral language learning in FI contexts.

The role of second language in higher education: A case study of German students at a Dutch university

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lidy Zijlmans ◽  
Anneke Neijt ◽  
Roeland van Hout
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Academic Success ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Educational Background ◽  
Primary Concern ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Main Language

AbstractThis article reports on an investigation of the challenges and benefits of university students taking a degree course in a language other than their mother tongue. Our study was conducted from the point of view of the non-native students themselves, and our primary concern was the role of language. We investigated the academic achievement of German students studying in a Dutch-English academic environment. Dutch is the main language of instruction, and English the main language of the literature used. In search of predictors for successful learning of Dutch (our first research question), LexTALE tests were administered to determine linguistic competence in the students’ first language, German, and their second language, English. In addition, we collected data on their educational background and language learning history. None of the LexTALE scores stood out as ‘the’ predictor for success in learning Dutch; German was a slightly better predictor than English. The best predictor appeared to be the students’ general educational level, expressed in mean grades for final exams in secondary education. We then studied the role of proficiency in the foreign languages needed for academic success. Language data on L3 Dutch were gathered at the start and were compared to study results after the first six months and at the end of the first year. The level of Dutch as a second language correlated with study results, expressed in ECTS; the correlation was even higher with mean grades on exams. This indicates that language proficiency does play a role in study success.

First and Second Language Learning: Same or Different?

1976 ◽  
Vol 158 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Macnamara
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Second Language Learning ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
First Language ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Practical Guidelines ◽  
Considerable Body

The thesis of the following paper is that the process of learning a second language, if it produces successful results, is the same as that of learning a first language. The paper reviews various objections that have been raised against this thesis, and it discusses the considerable body of research which explores it. It examines the appropriateness of the research data for throwing light on the validity of the thesis. It concludes with some practical guidelines for language teachers drawn from observations of babies learning their mother tongue.

Effects of Speech and Speech and Sign Instruction on Oral Language Learning and Generalization of Action + Object Combinations by Down's Syndrome Children

1984 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Ann Romski ◽  
Kenneth F. Ruder
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Oral Language ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Down's Syndrome ◽  
Down’S Syndrome ◽  
Treatment Conditions ◽  
Linguistic System ◽  
Object Relational ◽  
Sign Conditions ◽  
Level Performance

This study was designed to compare the effects of speech and speech-plus-sign stimulation during comprehension treatment on the oral language learning and generalization of action + object relational meanings. Ten home-reared Down's syndrome children in Early Stage I received concurrent comprehension treatment in Speech and Speech-Sign conditions using a miniature linguistic system. Upon attainment of criterion level performance in both conditions, generalization tasks were administered to measure the effects of the comprehension treatment on the comprehension and the production of treated and untreated action + object combinations. The results obtained from this study indicated that the two treatment conditions did not differ significantly for either learning or generalization. The data did, however, indicate that individual patterns of acquisition were evident among the children. Caution is advised concerning the automatic adoption or rejection of manual sign as part of oral language intervention programs.

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