Child Language development Flashcards
Behaviourist Theorist
Skinner
Behaviourist Theory
Children imitate adults and desirable behaviour is reinforced.
Behaviourist Theory limitations
Language is based on a set of structures or rules, which could not be worked out by imitation.
The mistakes made by children reveal that they are actively working out and applying the rules.
Innateness Theorist
Chomsky
Innateness Theory
Children must have an inborn faculty of language acquisition.
LAD- Language acquisition device.
For example, by listening to such forms as ‘worked’ and ‘played’, the child will form the hypothesis that the past tense of verbs is formed by adding -ed. This will then lead to virtuous errors.
Innateness Theory limitations
Chomsky’s work was theoretical.
The theory relies on children being exposed to language but takes no account of the interaction between children an their carers.
Cognitive Theorist
Piaget
Cognitive Theory
A child has to understand the concept before being able to speak it.
For example, object permanence.
Cognitive Theory limitations
As a child develops, it is harder to find clear links between language and intellect.
Syntax in particular doesn’t appear to rely on general intellectual growth.
Interactionist Theorist
Bruner
Interactionist Theory
Language exists for the purpose of communication and can only be learned in the context of interaction with people who want to communicate with you.
Child directed Speech.
LASS- Language acquisition support system.
Interactionist Theory limitations
Children in all cultures pass through the same stages in acquiring language even when adults do not adopt special ways of taking to children, so CDS may be useful but it is not essential.
