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Tina babbles, and her mother responds to her by imitating the sounds Tina makes. This would appear to refute the belief that _____.

a) Imitation is an important part of language development
b) Babbling is not a significant stage in language acquisition
c) Language is primarily learned through reinforcement
d) Motherese (baby talk) is ineffective in language development

User Cvb
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Final answer:

Tina's interaction with her mother, involving babbling and imitation, highlights the importance of babbling in early language development and disproves the idea that babbling is insignificant for acquiring language.

Step-by-step explanation:

Tina babbles, and her mother responds to her by imitating the sounds Tina makes. This interaction refutes the belief that babbling is not a significant stage in language acquisition. Babbling is an integral part of early language development, as it enables babies to experiment with sounds, which is a precursor to the formation of words and sentences. Imitation by caregivers, such as what Tina's mother is doing, supports this process by reinforcing the sounds and providing a social context for language use. Moreover, motherese, the high-pitched, sing-song manner of speaking to babies, is not ineffective but rather aids in engaging the child and enhancing language learning. Every culture has different language learning ideologies, but exposure to spoken language and interaction with caregivers and the environment significantly contribute to a child's language development.

User Elmi Ahmadov
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