Wk 6: Language and Cognition
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Wk 6: Language and Cognition
There is a close relationship between speech production and perception, as perception
follows production and production follows perception (Diehl et al., 2004). Environmental factors
play an essential role in language acquisition promotion. Children raised in different
socioeconomic statuses are more likely to experience varying language development. For
instance, an environment where a child can acquire inputs to interpret, feedback to discard, and
models to emulate promotes the development of language habits.
Environmental deprivation, neurological disruptions and deafness would primarily affect
language production, acquisition and understanding. A stimulating environment promotes
language acquisition. For example, Victor, a child who did not grow up in a stimulating
environment as he was isolated from other humans, thus lacking exposure, contributed to his
trouble acquiring language later (Doutthwaite, 2002). Children brought up in a surrounding with
little linguistic input delay language acquisition development.
Lack of access to speech and auditory input would lead to a complete lack or delay in the
development of language acquisition. For example, an individual born deaf may fail to develop
language acquisition as they have never heard speech input to imitate, thus relying on sign
language. Lack of access to speech input negatively affects language understanding and
production. Although lack of access to speech input would affect language acquisition, sign
language for the deaf was developed, which has been successfully taught to others, thus
indicating that with proper tools, language acquisition is still possible.
Injuries to the brain through trauma or stroke would underpin language acquisition,
particularly when the specialized brain parts in speech are involved. Wernicke’s and Broca’s
areas are specialized brain parts in speech as they are used in language production and
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comprehension (Kuhl, 2010). Injury to the Brocas and Wernicke areas may lead to a language
disorder such as aphasia, which is impaired ability to understand, speak or write. The impact on
language may vary based on the extent of the injury.
Conclusively, environmental factors play an essential role in language acquisition
promotion. A stimulating environment promotes language acquisition. Lack of access to speech
input negatively affects language understanding and production. Injury to the Brocas and
Wernicke areas may lead to a language disorder.
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References
Diehl, R. L., Lotto, A. J., & Holt, L. L. (2004). Speech perception. Annual Review Psychology
Links to an external site., 55, 149–179.
Douthwaite, J. V. (2002). The wild girl, natural man, and the monster: Dangerous experiments in
the age of enlightenment. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Kuhl, P. K. (2010). Brain mechanisms in early language acquisition. Neuron Links to an external
site., 67(5), 713–727.
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