Hi Joan- You recently wrote in part, "Children learn language from their parents--to imply otherwise is simply wrong. " If this is universally the case then how do you explain Rich-Harris's example of deaf parents who have children who can hear?
Thanks, -Don. ----- Original Message ----- From: Joan Warmbold <[email protected]> Date: Wednesday, February 9, 2011 12:48 pm Subject: Re: [tips] language and accents To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" <[email protected]> > Children learn language from their parents--to imply otherwise > is simply > wrong. But children's brains are plastic enough that they > can pick up a > second language easily and without an accent. I teach at a > community > college with many non-native students and every class has at > least 10 > students who speak at least 2 languages. They learned > their first > native language,(Polish, Russian, Chinese, etc).from their > parents as > that is the language that was used in the home. But when > they moved to > the US OR started school in the US during their early years, > their > English is amazingly proficient without any accent. > However, most of > them are also still proficient in their first language that they > acquired from their parents as, more often than not, their > parents are > still using their native language as opposed to > English. There are > various reasons for such but my many discussions with my > students imply > that many parents wish for their children to maintain their > language > skills from their "mother country," as well as maintain a > cultural > connection. > > Of course, we also have a significant minority of ESL students > who moved > to the US in their late teens or adulthood and they do have an > accent > and have a more challenging time becoming proficient in English. > > Joan > [email protected] > > don allen wrote: > > > > > > > > Hi Julie- > > > > I'd respond to the student by first directing him/her to > Judith > > Rich-Harris's "The Nurture Assumption" which addresses the > issue by > > suggesting that language isn't taught by parents, but by > peers. I'd > > also suggest reading the classic work by Werker &Tees: > *Werker*, > > Janet F.; *Tees*, Richard C.; Infant Behavior & Development, > Vol 7(1), > > Jan-Mar, 1984. pp. 49-63. which shows that phoneme > > recognition/production occurs at an early age. If you can't > hear the > > phonetic difference between your speech & others you are > unlikely to > > be able to match their accent. > > > > Hope that helps, > > > > -Don. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Penley, Julie" <[email protected]> > > Date: Wednesday, February 9, 2011 8:35 am > > Subject: [tips] language and accents > > To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" > > <[email protected]> > > > > > Hello TIPSters, > > > A student asked me why children don't always have the same > > > accent as their parents, particularly in the case of parents who > > > are second-language learners. A follow-up question from the > > > class is why siblings who are raised together don't always have > > > the same accents -- for example, a family moves from Chicago to > > > Arkansas (like mine did) and the youngest child is the only > > > sibling that does NOT have a typical "Southern" accent. Is there > > > a neurological explanation for this, or are these primarily > > > environmental effects? > > > Julie > > > > > > > > > Julie A. Penley, Ph.D. > > > Associate Professor of Psychology > > > Special Assistant to the Dean > > > El Paso Community College > > > PO Box 20500 > > > El Paso, TX 79998-0500 > > > Office phone: (915) 831-3210 > > > Department fax: (915) 831-2324 > > > email: [email protected] > > > webpage: http://dnn.epcc.edu/facultywebpages/jpenley > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- > > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. > > > To unsubscribe click here: > > > > > > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13157.966b795bc7f3ccb35e3da08aebe98f18&n=T&l=tips&o=8644or > > > send a blank email to > > leave-8644- > [email protected]> > > > > > Don Allen > > Retired professor > > Langara College > > > > --- > > > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected] > > <mailto:[email protected]>. > > > > To unsubscribe click here: > > > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=49240.d374d0c18780e492c3d2e63f91752d0d&n=T&l=tips&o=8647 > > > > <http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=49240.d374d0c18780e492c3d2e63f91752d0d&n=T&l=tips&o=8647>> > > (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the > line is broken) > > > > or send a blank email to > > leave-8647- > [email protected] > > <mailto:leave-8647- > [email protected]>> > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13157.966b795bc7f3ccb35e3da08aebe98f18&n=T&l=tips&o=8655or > send a blank email to > leave-8655-13157.966b795bc7f3ccb35e3da08aebe98...@fsulist.frostburg.edu Don Allen Retired professor Langara College --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. 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