Question

Statistical learning in language development in infants refers to _________

• A. calculating regularities in speech to isolate words
• B. early mathematical knowledge that infants can demonstrate
• C. infant data that researchers use to understand language growth
• D. learning to differentiate phonemes as they are used in spoken words

Hint:

Statistical learning helps explain how infants identify word boundaries before understanding meaning.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Defining statistical learning.
Statistical learning refers to the ability of infants to detect patterns and regularities in the speech stream they hear.
Step 2: Application in language acquisition.
Infants track the probability with which certain sounds follow others, helping them segment continuous speech into meaningful word units.
Step 3: Eliminating incorrect options.
It is not primarily about mathematics, research data collection, or phoneme differentiation alone.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Therefore, statistical learning involves calculating regularities in speech to isolate words.
Final Answer: (A)