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Theories of Language Development, The Nativist Approach - Coggle Diagram
Theories of Language Development
based on operant conditioning and imitation
The Learning Theory
Learning theorists explain language development in two ways
Language is aquired through the concept of
operant conditioning
using B.F. Skinner's theory
The baby's correct words receive reward and meaningless words are ignored, thereby no reinforcement is received.
Words linked to strong emotions receive a permanent place in the child's vocabulary
Parents are expert instructors because their responses provide positive reinforcement :tada:
Language is acquired through
imitation
The principle of children imitating adult behaviour is therefore also applied to children imitating adult speech
Baby imitates the speech of adults
After the child has imitated the word, the parent often expands on it
Learning theorists hold three major viewpoints that are important in language aquisition
Parents are primarily regarded as expert instructors, however caregivers also contribute
Babies who are stimulated linguistically become well-spoken in later childhood
Multiple repetitions are important, especially words that are linked to everyday activites
based on an integration of The Learning Theory, Social Pragmatism Theory and The Nativist Approach
The Integrated Approach
The current view holds that language acquisition cannot be understood fully by studying either environmental or biological factors in isolation
A complex and dynamic relationship exists between hereditary factors, maturation factors, learning strategies and social environments
learning and experience activate and reinforce this innate ability
children are born with an innate ability to learn language
based on social stimuli
Social Pragmatism
Language is a social construct and the emotional message is more important than the actual words
This theory is based on the assumption that language is learned because we are social and emotional beings
Babies and adults engage in conversation before babies can say words
reciprocal smiling
various vocalisations
eye contact
These adult like conversations are important
It is a reciprocal socialisation process with variations in pitch and melody of voice
reciprocal conversations link actions with vocalisations
indicate language is aquired for social engagement and conversing
language is learned because infants are dependent on others for their survival - (pragmatic use of language)
Pragmatism refers to the practical use of something
The Nativist Approach
Lenneberg
proposes the systematic development of language is linked to
biological maturation
there is a
sensitive
or optimal period in which language is aquired more easily and quickly
sensitive period is before puberty - after puberty phydiological changes in the brain make learning languages more difficult
based on innate ability
Chomsky
posits every normal person is born with the
inherent ability
to aquire language
based on
LAD
- Language aquisition device
complex constellation of interconnecting brain cells only found in humans
This system is present at birth but is dependent on maturation of brain cells in cerebral cortex
It is responsible for the production and understanding of an infinite number of sentences
all born with this basic structure of language
Infants learn only the
elements
of their mother tongue
language learning is not something the child does, rather if happens to the child when placed in an appropriate environment