First Language acquisition: A case study

Abstract

The present study is a case study which aims at looking for the gradual development of language acquisition of a child from the six month to three years. Language acquisition is an innate ability based on which human infants acquire a language that they are exposed to. Language acquisition is a gradual process, the speed of which depends on various factors. The objective of the study is to find out the nature of language acquisition of the subject and its relevance to the accepted norms of language acquisition. The data were collected through participatory observation and it is a random sampling. The data were transcribed and analysed structurally. The paper describes how the subject acquires the first language. The findings are compared with Wickramasinghe (1999) and Wijekoon (2011). It shows that though the language acquisition process is similar to those described in previous studies, the speed of acquisition is different. This may be due to other external factors. This study is significant not only to theoretical linguists but also to language therapists and other researchers who are interested in looking for normalcy in language acquisition. A limitation in this study is that the data were not electronically recorded and hence they cannot be rechecked.