Language Acquisition: The Information Processing Model - Essay Example

Language Acquisition Introduction Across the universe, one of the most important things that define human beings is their ability to communicate and express their ideas using language. The difference with other animals is that those animals can only communicate using limited but meaningful vocalizations or sometimes it is done by certain partially learned strategies and systems lie for the bird songs. So far, no species exists in the world that has the ability to express efficiently the infinite ideas as well as varieties of symbols in speeches and sounds. The ability to communicate and express effectively means that human beings have to keep teaching their young ones how to master and use language as they grow. Communicating using certain languages is very helpful for humans in their various communities. In this case, they can easily share and teach their succeeding generations about their cultures and other important aspects of their communities. The ability to communicate in certain languages is very remarkable in its own sense. Many researchers have tried to explore this important development in the process of finding out how human beings can effectively manage this skill, which is quite complex in its own way especially for young children. Infants who are at least 12 months old have been found to be sensitive to various grammatical aspects, having a certain ability to effectively understand some of the causative sentences. The only thing is that they may not have the ability to constrict such sentences in the process of expressing their ideas and other concepts. This paper makes an examination of how individuals often manage to acquire language, focusing on how this particular ability helps them in the process of acquiring the second language. Language acquisition Language acquisition can be described as the process by which people often acquire the ability to perceive and understand language (Cohen 2009). Additionally, it is also the process through which people produce and make use of various sentences and words in the process of communicating and expressing their ideas and opinions. In this process, people can effectively share information, discuss and deliberate on various issues happening in the social, political and economic dimensions among others. It is important to note that language acquisition is one of the most quintessential human characteristics. This happens because non-human beings often do not have the natural ability to communicate by using clearly defined languages. In most cases, language acquisition often refers to the acquisition of first language, which examines the process of how infants acquire their native languages. First language acquisition often differs with second-language acquisition in many ways; first, the process of acquiring first language happens with infants, who are learning how to understand and communicate in their native language. On the other hand, second-language acquisition refers to the process of acquiring additional languages, happening in both children as well as in adults. In this case, it is evident that the process of acquiring a second language can only happen once an individual has acquired his first language. It is important to understand that the process of acquiring and using a language successfully often involves a variety of tools that include morphology, phonology, semantic, syntax as well as having an extensive knowledge of vocabulary. Language in itself, can be represented in various ways, it can be vocalized like the case of a speech or it manual, where signs are used. The capacity of human beings to perceive and use language is inscribed in their brain. In as much as the ability of people to understand and use language can be described as being finite, it is evident that people can always comprehend infinite numbers of sentences and words, which are often based on the syntactic principle, often referred to as recursion. Evidence from various research activities has indicated that every individual possesses three main recursive mechanisms, which make it possible for sentences to and words to go through in a manner that can be described as indeterminate. These three mechanisms include coordination, complementation as well as relativization. Additionally, two main principles exist that provide a guide on the way people get to acquire their first language. First is the aspect of speech perception which always comes first before speech production as well as the slow evolving systems through which an infant begins to earn his first language. Language Acquisition models Different models have continued to be developed to assist people in the process of understanding how to acquire both the first and additional languages. These models have come up from the diverse disciplines that are associated with the process of growth and development in human beings such as linguistics and psychology. Linguistic and psychological thinking have continued to play an essential role towards the outcomes of first and second language acquisition. It is important to note that while many people have tried to understand selected languages for reasons of studying abroad and other tourist related concerns, some have been finding it hard to comprehend it. Sometimes the reasons for the two aspects can be explained in various ways according to the underlying models. The various models devised for the process of language acquisition often enable people to know some of the ways in which they can effectively study and understand the process of acquiring second and consecutive languages depending on the level of need. The selected models in the process of second language have often been centered on the “nature” and “nurture” distinction. Alternatively, some have been founded on the “nativism” as well as “empiricism” thinking (Singleton & Ryan 2004). As far as the theory of empiricism is concerned, all forms f knowledge are said to emanate from experience. This is often from the way people interact with their particular environment based on their senses and reasoning. On the other hand, empiricism contrasts with nativism in a great way, which explains that knowledge is not in any way acquired though from people’s experiences; instead, the whole process emanates from the innate and genetically transmitted traits. Some theoreticians have continued to emphasize that the process of second language acquisition is largely based in the many of the environmental factors with some still explain that the innate factors are central towards success in this process. However, it is important to note that all these various models play a certain role depending on an individual’s efforts in acquiring a second language. Therefore, before an individual can proceed in trying to understand a second language, it is great benefit trying to understand these models in order to know to what extent they can be applied in trying to understand the second language. The information processing model This model learning language was proposed by McLaughlin almost three decades ago, in the 1980s (Doughty 2003). According to his perspectives, McLaughlin explains that the process of learning a second language involves shifting from the controlled systems to the more automatic language process systems in actual practice (Doughty, 2003). More often, learning a second language is described as complex cognitive attribute ad skill that requires a person to be fully dedicated and committed in order to learn it effectively. In this process, learning a second language is equal to learning another skill. The process has to be practiced in order to sink into an individual in the most effective way. People that often become fluent in speaking second languages are often practicing it every day, they dedicate to talking to people, who teach them, they write stories and articles and with time, the realize that they have perfected in speaking the language. The success of this important process requires the process of automating the particular component sub-skills. When an individual improves in perfecting his proficiency, he constantly restructures it progressively until he fully masters the language in the most effective way. in this process the learners of the second language get to progressively, simplify, unify as well as gain an increasing control and mastery if their particular internal representations (Sasaki 2010). In this case, it is important to note that restructuring and automatization are the most fundamental aspects of the cognitive theory. Having the controlled or conscious processing places many demands on the particular learners’ cognitive abilities as well as his short term memory. In this case, the learners is expected to be in a good position to remember the little elements that he learners, which play a leading role in the having the ability to construct sentences and make meaning out of various vocabularies. It is important to understand that even the process of making the simplest of all sentences requires much restructuring of the small vocabularies learnt. It is this particular complexity that often calls for increased level of determination and commitment towards learning the second language. The processing model often emphasizes on the individual’s ability to master these small elements that that need to be restructure together in order to come up with a sentence that has a substantive meaning. The influence of the information Processing Model The information processing model is very effective in the process of understanding and gaining proficiency in the process of acquiring a second language. This is because, this model often emphasizes on the need to effectively understand the tiny pieces of information learnt and restructuring them together effectively in order to construct meaningful sentences (Beth 2005). As a person continues to make persistent efforts and practice, he can eventually manage to construct simple sentences in the most effective way without having to struggle. In most cases, this begins to happen without any meaningful effort or conscious thoughts. In this case, new structures can begin to develop consciously. It is important to note that the automatic processes that a person begins to rely on as he gains full mastery are those stored in the long term memory. This means that such information can be made available in the most effective way when needed. However, a person has to be fully prepared to take in as much information as possible especially in the initial stages so that he can effectively construct sentences and store them in the short term memory. With continuous practice the person pushes the information already learnt in the long term memory, from where it is easily and effectively retrieved when in need. In this kind of development, an individual’s inter-language can be described as getting the much needed restructuring since enough information is being stored in the long term memory. This means that one can master the language and can still speak it even after not being exposed to it for a long time. The process of continuous practice needs to be done in such a way that one can effectively correct the few errors that may arise, otherwise, when stored in that very form, an individual can continue making certain errors hoping that it actually the way it should be. The implication of this development in the learning process is that a particular learner may not have the capacity to learn so many new concepts at a go. He has to learn new content and take time to interact with it, making any corrections and restructuring before storing the final items in the long term memory. The learner has to ensure that what he learns and has to store in memory is the correct item that will have to be retrieved over and over again depending on the prevailing need (Tao & Tan 2009). The learner’s short term memory, at this stage, does not have the capacity to accommodate everything, it has to be done slowly, giving the learner time to internalize and make conscious thoughts before executing the final instructions. It is always the duty of the teacher to ensure that he gives the learner an ample time to make conscious thoughts about the new information being learnt before adding new content. Later, when the learner has learnt the new content effectively, it becomes an automatic process taking new instructions and interacting with new content (Tao & Tan 2009). The process of language acquisition with respect to the information processing model can be compared to the process of learning how to drive. In the first place, one had to learn some of the seemingly simple processes like changing the gear, managing the steering wheel and so on; however, as the person masters these concepts, the process becomes automatic in the mind, where the person does not require any kind of conscious thoughts. It is important to understand that in the process of mastering a second language, one has to ensure that in the process of practicing, he interacts with people that speak the language mostly. This may not be practicable especially at the initial stages; however, as one continues to master the language, the need for having to stay with such people become more important. This is because, as one interacts with these people, he can understand how to construct some sentences in the official and non-official manner. Additionally, this process is helpful in helping one to effectively connect the pieces of vocabularies and sentences previously stored in the short and long term memory. It is important for people learning a second language to practice all that they hear, failure to do so may mean that an individual cannot effectively learn the language in the most effective way. In my case, I had problems when learning my second language. First I had confidence crisis I expressing myself because I could not effectively pin up the vocabularies and little concepts I had learnt. However, I got in the company of people that had mastery of the language, something that helped me to polish up my language. With continued practice, I realized that I could manage to express myself fluently. Conclusion The information processing model provides an effective way of how an individual can learn how to master proficiency in the process of acquiring a new language, which is a new skill on its own. One has to understand that learning has to be progressive, requiring commitment and dedication especially at the initial stages before the person becomes effective. One has to learn how to be attentive and put together the tiny vocabularies learnt, the use them in order to construct the simplest of all the sentences. The process of how I acquired my second language took the same turn; I had to pay much attention on the simple words that I was learning. I could keep practicing, writing and reading simple texts and taking them to my instructor who helped me make a few corrections in terms of spoken and written sentences. With continuous practice, I realized that I could manage to make meaningful conversation and discussion with colleagues without many difficulties. It is important to note that after learning the new language, it is a good skill that people can use at all times in the right environment that has the native speakers. This happens in the learning or work process, where one has to consistently meet with many people speaking the second language. People should show full commitment in learning the new language since the whole process is full of fun and exciting in its own way. References Beth, T. (2005). Quantum information processing (2nd rev. and enl. ed.). Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. Doughty, C. (2003). The handbook of second language acquisition. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub. Cohen, S. (2009). Language acquisition. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire [England: Palgrave Macmillan. Sasaki, H. (2010). Dual processing model of visual information cortical and sub cortical processing. New York: Nova Science. Singleton, D., & Ryan, L. (2004). Language acquisition the age factor (2nd ed.). Clevedon: Multilingual Matters. Tao, J., & Tan, T. (2009). Affective Information Processing. London: Springer London. Read More