How do children acquire and pronounce language?

From a young age, children get by in life by communicating through screams to show all emotion, and crying too when portraying almost every emotion. Without words and language, we wouldn’t be where we are today as every culture relies on them, as they’re the most important thing a human will ever learn. In the documentary, a 15 month old child was bilingual learning both Greek and English. We found that it’s much easier for children to understand and learn 2 languages at once as it uses a different part of the brain to which adults do. When speaking the words, a human uses on average 30 muscles at once in order to produce the words which is why it’s so hard for children to learn how to talk. From a young age, the larynx (vocal trap in the throat) is extremely high up when they’re this young as it allows the child to breathe whilst suckling and only begins to drop when they get around the age of 1. This is when the pitch becomes higher and the chords are higher too. A disadvantage however of the larynx dropping (3cm lower) is that it means that the child is more vulnerable to choking.

When they get to the age of about 2, the pace in which the child learns new words becomes much quicker and the child in the documentary of age 2 and a half began to learn as much as 10 new words a day. At this age, she knows how to construct words into a sentence so that they begin to make sense, however they make virtuous errors in which they use their initiative  to add ‘s’ on the end of a pre-existing word to make it plural even if the newly formed word doesn’t make sense, this relates to the wug test also. At this age, children mostly get the grammar correct all the time, as ‘children have an instinctive map for language’. It’s also this age in which children begin to develop self- awareness in which they recognise themselves in a reflection in the mirror and they realise they are their own person, hence why they say about the terrible 2’s in which children have their worst tantrums as they realise they are their own person and they don’t understand the concept of sharing and want everything for themselves.

Analysis of Broken Homes 'damaging brains of infant children'

The article written by Marie Woolf addresses the general idea that children that are brought up in homes that are seen as 'broken' for example, separated parents, absent parents etc tend to have more damaged brains leading to them then being incapable of being able to develop their brain and mental capabilities. The main point that is raised is that children from dysfunctional families are joining school at the age of 3-4 having the mental capability of a 1 year old. The tory leader (Duncan Smith) puts this down to strain the breakdown of the family puts on the child and the great distress it causes them. To some extent, I do agree with this argument that has been raised as the breakdown of a family can leave the family In great devastation and lead the child to under develop because without the two parents there for maximum support it is often common that the child does suffer. However, I think its a sweeping statement to make to put a stamp on the reason for children's mental ages decreasing being down to 'dysfunctional' families. As time is going on, technology is becoming huge parts of every child's life and children are no longer using their muscles as they used to, as they don't go outside, they instead sit on a device all day, not engaging their brains in any other form of activities. Children are becoming much more dependent on technology and much more lazy.
Its also important to note that family type is very different to family dysfunction. The way in which children are nurtured varies all across the world and this could have an impact on the way they then bring up their child and how their child develops mentally. Different cultures allow their children much more freedom than others which means from a young age they are used to having to fend for themselves naturally giving them better cognitive development. With the onset of the nanny state, this country is attempting to address the problem by introducing the 2 year provision and nursery vouchers for 3 year olds. Where this could be a great help for working families to afford good childcare, it appears to be aimed at families on benefits. It is not tackling the poor parenting from predominantly young families who have had very little or no education themselves. This is what Norman Glass tried to achieve with the introduction of sure start in 1997. With this in mind, this is what makes me believe that 'broken homes' isn't the most important factor and that as a whole, the most important factor to children's developing both physically and mentally is the technological side of things and how we are no longer thinking for ourselves anymore.

Parliamentary Language
The language used in parliament must be words and phrases that abide by the rules of parliament. Words used in parliament, in both the House of Lords and House Of Commons typically use lexis that go against or differ from every day language that is used by average people.
Examples pf parliamentary language are:


Adjournment debate - This is usually a half-hour debate introduced by a backbencher MP  at the end of business for the day. The subjects that are discussed are often local or personal issues. There is also a series of short adjournment debates on Wednesday mornings.

Allocation of time motion (guillotine) - This is a term defined for the time for one or more stages of a bill is restricted, and the question is put on outstanding business, even though members may still wish to speak on that business (see Programme order).


Closure -  Although there are still members speaking or wishing to speak, the debate should be ended and the House proceed immediately to a decision. The Speaker has discretion as to whether to accept the closure and, if opposed, it requires at least 100 members voting in favour; otherwise, the original debate is resumed. If the closure is agreed to, the question is then put immediately on the matter previously under debate.

Points of order - when members raise the house's rule of order to the speaker's attention. 

Royal assent -  the monarch's (King or Queens) assent to make the bill an act of parliament.

Programme orders - a motion restricting time for one or more stages of a bill

Prorogation- The end of the parliamentary season.

Ballot (for Private Members' Bills) - drawn on the second Thursday that the House sits in each session. The 20 successful members put their bills down for discussion on particular days which is Fridays.

The System

There are two houses within parliament that work together in order to pass new laws and keep the legislative process in order and running. Firstly, there's the House Of Commons who are elected to be party of this and they focus mainly on financial bills etc and passing them. There is also then the House Of Lords who are unelected bodies and are in this house through hereditary of Lords in their
families and they assist the House Of Commons when bills are being passed.


Un-parliamentary Language

This language is used by people within parliament but the language goes against the rules and is looked down upon and deemed as rude of un polite. Examples included; Bullshit, liar, Nazi, rat etc. This is refrained from  being used so that people understand that it isn't the correct way to speak especially in an environment like they are in.

http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/fashion-blog/2016/feb/25/how-to-dress-like-a-man-the-semantics-of-the-brokeback-jacket

This text is a text that's meant to entertain as it a bout a man explaining all about his first jacket he bought and how to 'dress like a man'. It's aimed at men as its related to the title of dressing like a man. The text explains about the semantics of the broke back jacket. The jacket has been personified as though it's an 'alpha' again relating to the typical term of an alpha male, the dominant,  superior figure.

self evaluation

My self evaluation

From my most recent paper I did in test conditions, I found that my AO1 was slightly lower than what I got for my AO2 mark. In order for this mark to be raised in the foreseeable future, then I need to ensure my use of language levels is more developed and that I'm using more of them. Not only that, but I need to ensure that I'm using the correct terminology to go along with these also. To ensure my AO2 grade goes up, I need to make sure I'm not describing and that I'm evaluating more throughout so that I'm answering the question to the best of my ability throughout the question. A final thing I need to work on is developing each point and having further research of my own, alongside remembering all the theories and theorists.