Chapter 6
Age of acquisition effects in language development
The most accessible language for deaf children is generally a sign language, but few children have input in sign languages early in life. Late first-language acquisition of a sign language reveals age of acquisition effects that must be taken into consideration by linguistic theories of acquisition. When deaf children access spoken language through a cochlear implant, age of acquisition effects can again be seen, and the presence or absence of sign language is an important factor in language outcomes. Finally, the development of a sign language as a second language in unique contexts such as that of Christopher, a polyglot savant, can reveal more about the nature of language development and the theories of language structure that must be posited.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Background
- 2.1Language domains and critical period effects
- 2.2Modality effects and age effects
- 3.Late L1 acquisition of sign languages
- 4.Deaf children with cochlear implants
- 5.Sign language acquisition in an atypical case: What Christopher can tell us
- The evidence: Christopher’s signed and spoken languages
- 6.Conclusions and implications
-
Notes
-
References
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