This chapter explores the wonderful way that young children start to make meaning of their worlds, understand their environment and communicate with others from the very moment they are born. It initially and briefly discusses the nonverbal ways that babies and toddlers use to communicate their feelings and needs before they learn to talk and then explores the early development of language in those critical three years. It provides a snapshot of several theories about language learning and explains why a sociocultural approach can help us understand how children learn their mother tongue and the implications for parents, caregivers and educators. It also reflects on how learning the mother tongue helps children learn how to become part of a particular culture and community.
Anticipated outcomes for the chapter
After working through this chapter you should be able to:
• discuss the way young children begin to make meaning of their world from birth
• recognise that learning language means learning about culture and community
• understand how babies and toddlers begin to communicate their feelings nonverbally
• appreciate the importance of the first three yeas of life in the early development of a child's language
• explain the implications of a sociocultural approach to language learning for parents, caregivers and teachers.
SCENARIO: A NEW BABY
The birth of a child is a wondrous occasion and there are many different cultural and religious traditions and rituals associated with welcoming a baby into the world.
New baby Samuel has arrived safely and is warmly welcomed by his proud parents and extended family. From the very moment of Samuel's birth, his parents and all of those who meet him talk to him as if he understands everything they say. Samuel is already a meaning-maker: he is immediately part of the conversations as if he can respond to each comment. This seems to be a common practice in many cultures. In Australia the initial conversation might include the following kinds of comments:
Welcome little one!
I can see ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes.
Aren't you a beautiful boy?
Look you have your father's dimple on your chin and your mother's tiny ears …
Let's wrap you up so you're nice and warm.
Are you ready for a bath?
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