Child language (Spoken/Written)

Question 1

Skinner’s Behaviourist Approach

Answer 1

Based on conditioning and positive reinforcement. A child imitates an adult, recieves positive input, and is therefore given an incentive to continue imitating and thus, language is aquired.
(Fails to explain how children assemble structures they have not heard, and children dont assume syntactical structures via imitation.)

Question 2

Chomsky’s Nativist Approach

Answer 2

Based on the idea that language learning is innate - we are pre-programmed to learn language, and we need to activate the LAD (Language Aquisition Device) to learn. Also studied UG - universal grammar in different languages.

Question 3

Piaget’s Cognitive Approach

Answer 3

Based on the idea that children learn language through social interactions and the environment. Children must be exposed to new things in order to learn language.

Question 4

Bruner’s Interactionist Approach

Answer 4

Children learn language through interacting with others. Added to Chomky’s LAD by imagining the LASS (Language aquisition support system).

Question 5

Berko-Gleason (1958)

Answer 5

WUG test - Gave children random words, then tested their skill of pluralisation on them to test grammatical understanding. Young children were able to grasp the -er and -ed suffixes easier. Shows an understanding but current overextention/lack of knowledge as to how pluralising irregular. (Supports Nativism)

Question 6

Aitchison (1957)

Answer 6

3 stages of CLA.
Labelling - Children aquire nouns first to identify things around them.
Packaging - Assembling words into groups.
Network Building - Forming connections between words and groups.