TABLE OF CONTENTS
Synopsis
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Chapter 8. Young Infants' Discrimination of Speech Sounds

Human Development Video Activity
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YOUNG INFANTS' DISCRIMINATION OF SPEECH SOUNDS

Estimated Completion Time:

Approximately 5 minutes.

Synopsis:

Janet Werker, Director of the Infant Research Centre at the University of British Columbia, first demonstrated that young infants are able to discriminate among speech sounds of unfamiliar languages, but that they lose this ability after their first year. In the following clip, Werker explains this highly sophisticated procedure and the corresponding results.

Research has shown that young infants are able to discriminate among speech sounds of languages they have never heard before but that after their first year, they no longer have this ability. This phenomenon was first demonstrated by Janet Werker through a technique known as head-turning procedure. In the following clip, Werker explains this highly sophisticated procedure and the corresponding results.

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1.

The fact that young infants can discriminate among speech sounds of languages they have never heard before indicates what about the nature-nurture dimension of this aspect of language development? What is the presumed benefit of this early ability?
Being independent of experience, infants’ early ability to discriminate among speech sounds they have never heard must be innate. This ability enables infants to learn any language they are regularly exposed to.

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