BEHAVIOURIST - B.F. Skinner

Question 1

In what year was this theory established?

Answer 1

1957

Question 2

This theory suggests that language is acquired through…?

Answer 2

Imitation and reinforcement - receiving approval and encouragement motivates the child

Question 3

Assumes that language is…

Answer 3

Similar to other types of human behaviour - needs positive and negative reinforcement

Question 4

FOR

Answer 4

• Helps to explain phonological development: imitation plays a part
• Some lexical choices may be learnt via imitation
• Children do imitate accent and dialect, learn politeness markers/strategies and repeat what they hear around them

Question 5

AGAINST

Answer 5

• Children seem to pass through the stages at similar times despite different linguistic experiences; there would be much more variation between children based on parental reinforcement
• Children understand how grammar works very early in their development
• Children are not just limited to the sentences they have heard - they can use prior learning to produce and understand new sentence utterances