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Theories of Language Acquisition

The document discusses three main theories of language acquisition: 1. Behaviorist Theory proposes that language is acquired through conditioning principles like association, imitation, and reinforcement. Children learn words by associating sounds with objects and actions. 2. Nativist Theory suggests that language is an innate faculty, with Chomsky proposing a Language Acquisition Device that allows children to develop language skills based on an innate Universal Grammar. 3. Interactionist Theory argues that language development is both biological and influenced by children's desire to communicate with others in their environment.

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Lano Pavarotty
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710 views24 pages

Theories of Language Acquisition

The document discusses three main theories of language acquisition: 1. Behaviorist Theory proposes that language is acquired through conditioning principles like association, imitation, and reinforcement. Children learn words by associating sounds with objects and actions. 2. Nativist Theory suggests that language is an innate faculty, with Chomsky proposing a Language Acquisition Device that allows children to develop language skills based on an innate Universal Grammar. 3. Interactionist Theory argues that language development is both biological and influenced by children's desire to communicate with others in their environment.

Uploaded by

Lano Pavarotty
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Theories of Language Acquisition

Behaviorist
Theory
Behaviorist
Theory

B.F. Skinner
Language is acquired
Behaviorist through principles of
Theory conditioning, including
association, imitation, and
reinforcement.
According to this view,
Behaviorist
children learn words by
Theory associating sounds with
objects, actions, and
events.
Behaviorist The theory can be
summed up as: LISTEN,
Theory IMITATE, RECEIVE A
REWARD, REPEAT FOR
RECALL.
Criticisms:
Behaviorist • Learning cannot
Theory account for the rapid
rate at which children
acquire language.
Criticisms:
Behaviorist There can be an infinite
Theory number of sentences in a
language. All these
sentences cannot be learned
by imitation.
Criticisms:
Behaviorist Children make
Theory
errors, such as
overregularizing verbs.
Criticisms:
Behaviorist Children acquire language
Theory skills even though adults
do not consistently correct
their syntax.
Behaviorist The theory can be
summed up as: LISTEN,
Theory IMITATE, RECEIVE A
REWARD, REPEAT FOR
RECALL.
Nativist
Theory

Noam Chomsky
Nativist Chomsky suggests
Theory that language is an
innate faculty.
Chomsky claims that language
Nativist acquisition is greatly dependent upon a
linguistic faculty which he terms
Theory Language Acquisition Device (LAD),
an innate mechanism or process that
allows children to develop language
skills or Universal Grammar, around
which all languages are built.
Nativist Based on the
Theory assumption, there are
“core” and “language
specific” rules in all
languages.
When a learner comes across
Nativist “language specific” he will tend to refer
to his first language (L1). Thus, if a
Theory learner discovers that a second
language (L2) rule is not in accordance
with the universal rule, he will attempt
to interpret that rule by means of the
equivalent rule in his L1.
Interactionist Interactionists argue
Theory that language
development is both
biological and social.
Interactionist They also argue that
Theory language learning is
influenced by the desire
of children to
communicate with others.
They believe that "children are born
Interactionist with a powerful brain that matures
Theory slowly and predisposes them to
acquire new
understandings that they are
motivated to share with others"
(Bates,1993;Tomasello,1995, as cited in shaffer,et
al.,2002,p.362).
Interactionist They also argue that
Theory language learning is
influenced by the desire
of children to
communicate with others.

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