Adult-Child Relationships and Language Acquisition

Abstract

This paper concerns social relationships and language development and it attempts to show that the consideration of the totality of communication within the adult-child relationship is necessary if we are to understand the process of language acquisition. Non-linguistic communication may play a part in developing skills necessary to regulate conversations, contribute to the development of communicative intentions and provide information which aids the comprehension of speech. The role of non-linguistic interpersonal communication in the development of syntax appears to be more problematic. Non-linguistic communication can provide the skills necessary for infants to begin to tackle syntactic problems and can provide information which forms the basis for detecting syntactic regularities. However, the complexity of syntax suggests that its acquisition is unlikely to occur simply by the provision of appropriate information. Instead, a common explanation has been that mastery of syntax is possible because children possess innate abilities. Even if this position were correct, interpersonal relationships would still be of fundamental importance to acquisition. Such relationships provide children with the cultural background for language. This allows children to develop shared understandings of the process of communication within their culture - and without such knowledge language could not develop. From this perspective discussions about whether acquisition is a result of cognitive development or socialization becomes meaningless; both are fundamental and interrelated processes. This article also illustrates that although messages between adults and children are conveyed in many different ways they are invariably integrated in a form which follows rules or conventions. Similar points can be made about communication which involves other social and personal relationships. Thus, there is an additional message to this paper that research often needs to go beyond language to consider the way that both linguistic and non-linguistic communication channels are employed within social relationships.