TACCA PRITA YUDISTIRA (0813042011) - BABY TALK

Second Language Acquisition Task

(Baby Talk)

Tacca Prita Yudistira

0813042011

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION FACULTY

LAMPUNG UNIVERSITY

BANDAR LAMPUNG

2010/2011

Background of Problem

Language acquisition is  the process of learning a native or a second language. The acquisition of native languages is studied primarily by developmental psychologists

and psycholinguists. Although how children learn to speak is not perfectly understood, most explanations involve both the observation that children copy what they hear and the inference that human beings have a natural aptitude for understanding grammar. While children usually learn the sounds and vocabulary of their native language through imitation, grammar is seldom taught to them explicitly; that they nonetheless rapidly acquire the ability to speak grammatically supports the theory advanced by Noam Chomsky and other proponents of transformational grammar.
 Baby talk is more effective than regular speech in getting an infant's attention. Studies have shown that infants actually prefer to listen to this type of speech. Some researchers, including Rima Shore (1997), believe that baby talk is an important part of the emotional bonding process between the parents and their child that help the infants learn the language. More than one language can also be learned because eventually, the child will be clever enough to differentiate the languages. It is easier to learn languages as an infant than as an adult. Other researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Wisconsin confirm that using basic “baby talk” helps babies pick up words faster than usual. Infants actually pay more attention when parents use infant-directed language, which has a slower and more repetitive tone than used in regular conversation.This research is proposed in order to identify how adults communicate with baby using baby talk.

The Research
This taping is held on 24 October 2007 . the child’s name is Al-ghifari Yudistira (Agi). Agi is three and half years old. The taping is held twice. First taping is the conversation between Agi and Pon, her babysitter  (a 18 year old girl) and the second taping is the conversation between Agi and Monique, Agi’s sister (a 19 year old girl).

First conversation
Pon      : Agi uda maem belum ?
Agi      : mam?

Pon      : iya mam
Agi      : cudah
Pon      : kapan?

Agi      : tadi
Pon      : pake apa?
Agi      : tiyol
Pon      : eh agi liat dong ini gambar apa?
Agi      : apa?

Pon      : tebak dong…
Agi      : ga tauuuu……….
Pon       : coba liat dulu dong gii
Agi      : aku tak tauu..
Pon       : agi mau susu ultra ga?
Agi      : mauu..cucu ulta
Pon       : nanyi dulu dong
Agi      : ga mauuuu
Pon        : eh liat gi ada mba dia main sepeda
Agi      : na? (mana)
Pon       : ituuu
Agi      : cepeda baluuu

Pon       : warna apa coba itu?
Agi      : bilu
Pon       : bukan itu merah jambu

Agi      : itu biluuuuu
Pon       : itu merah jambu giii
Agi      : melah jambu yaa.. ?
Pon       : iya merah jambu, agi punya sepeda ga?

Agi       : cepeda?
Pon       : iya sepeda,punya gak?

Agi       : nya, da bebeknya
Pon       : bagus dong?
Agi       : guuuusss

The Second conversation. Conversation between Agi andMonique

Monique          : uda mandi belom gi?

Agi                  : dah

Monique          : ama sapa?

Agi                  : mbak

Monique          : Agi nih dah sekolah belom sih?

Agi                  : cudah

Monique          : dimana?

Agi                  : teka

Monique          : TK mana?

Agi                  : jauuuuh

Monique          : bawa apa kalo sekolah?

Agi                  : tas

Monique          : isinya apa?

Agi                  : buku

Monique          : terus?

Agi                  : ……….

Monique          : terus bawa apalagi?

Agi                  : pencil

Monique          : kalo sekolah naik apa gi?

Agi                  : mobil

Monique          : ama sapa?

Agi                  : papak (bapak)

Monique          : ihh jam Agi baru ya?

Agi                  : yah

Monique          : beli dimana?

Agi                  : di canda (Chandra)

Monique          : dibeliin siapa?

Agi                  : ibu

Monique          : berapa gi harganya?

Agi                  : dua libu

Monique          : mahaaal amaaat..mba onique boleh pinjem ga?

Agi                  : gak

Monique          : mba Onique punya eskrim gedee banget, mau ga?

Agi                  : es clim?

Monique          : iyah. Mau ga?

Agi                  : mauuuuu

Analyzing and Discussion

From those two conversations among Agi, his babysitter Pon and his sister Monique.
Firstly, we can analyze the baby or toddler (Agi) characteristics when he talked to adults.
1.    Agi used simple words to communicate. He used only two to three words. For example mam,dah,bilu.
2.    We can also identify that in his age, Agi is already able to respond what the adult say or ask to him. It can bee seen from her response when he talked to adults. he is also able to answer some simple open-ended questions which require more than “yes” or “no” answers. 
For example:   Monique          : mba Onique pinjem dong
                        Agi                  : gak

Secondly, we also can analyze the characteristics of adult when they communicate with toddler.
1. The adults communicate with Pon in short, simple and clear patterns in order to make Agi understand easily. For example, udah maem belum?
2. The adult sometimes could not get what Agi said. They asked Agi repeat to know what she said. So, as an adult we should use patience when toddler is trying to say something you do not understand. If the child tries several times to communicate something to you and you still do not understand him, ask him to show you what she means.
3. Then, the adults encouraged Icha to talk by asking open-ended questions, which require more than “yes” or “no” answers. For example, uda mandi belum? Agi jam baru yah?

Thirdly, we can also identify the Input modification of the speaker that is used to simplify the language in order to be easily comprehended by the toddler. Modification by the speaker occurs at the level of linguistic and interaction. There are three kinds of modification that are used in this research
a.    Modification in speech rate, intonation and speech sound articulation.
It means that the adults try to simplify the language in speech rate, intonation and speech sound articulation in order to build well communication with the toddlers.

b.    Modification of Morphology and Syntax
The second type of input modification is Modification of Morphology and Syntax. This modification of language simplify in the part of word formation. We can see in the videos hat the adult try to form simple construction of words that will be easy to the toddler to catch the meaning of the conversation. Susch as : es krim gede banget.

c.    Modification in Vocabulary
The next type of modification is Modification in Vocabulary. It means that the adults use the familiar vocabulary to communicate with the toodler. We can see on the video that adult use simple word that has been simplified by removing some letter from the word such as “mam” from makan  and “dah” from sudah.

Finally, we can conclude that in interacting with toddler (in this case two and half years old) Adults use short and simple terms to communicate with toddler in order to make them understand easily. The adults also should get the baby or toddler attention when they want to talk with the toddler. It could be done by getting down to his level to talk face-to-face with toddler, showing a thing to the toddler when they want to talk about that thing, and using gesture. This will help the toddler hear what the adults are saying, and help him learned to pay attention when others talked to him. Next, the adults can encourage toddler to talk by asking open-ended questions, which require more than “yes” or “no” answers. The last the adults have to use input modification which has been explained above.