Child Language Theories

Question 1

Imitation Theory- Who’s theory is it

Answer 1

Skinner

Question 2

Imitation Theory- Skinner’s quote

Answer 2

“children learn language through imitating their parents”

Question 3

Imitation Theory- Evidence for it

Answer 3

Repetition of what parents say

Question 4

Innateness Theory- Who’s theory is it

Answer 4

Chomsky

Question 5

Innateness Theory- Chomsky’s quote

Answer 5

“Children are born with the ability to learn language”

Question 6

Innateness Theory- Evidence for it

Answer 6

Overextension

Question 7

Input Theory- Who’s theory is it

Answer 7

Bruner

Question 8

Input Theory- Summarise it

Answer 8

Children have to have interaction and input to learn language

Question 9

Input Theory- What shows the importance of interaction with others

Answer 9

Child Directed Speech

Question 10

Input Theory- What is L.A.S.S

Answer 10

Language Acquisation Support System

Question 11

Cognitive Theory- Who’s theory is it

Answer 11

Piaget

Question 12

Cognitive Theory- Summarise it

Answer 12

Children have to understand concepts before they use appropriate language

Question 13

Cognitive Theory- Who is this aimed at

Answer 13

Children from 12-18 months

Question 14

What did Skinner label children as

Answer 14

naturally good mimics

Question 15

What is evidence for the imitation theory

Answer 15

Children have the same accents their parents have, conditioned to speak in the way their parents do, Brown’s “fis” phenomenon, phonemic contraction and melodic utterance

Question 16

What is evidence against the imitation theory

Answer 16

Can’t explain inflections, children produce language which their parents wouldn’t have said, if they have imitated they wouldn’t have learnt the grammatical rule, overextensions and underextensions, virtuous errors, babbling, Berko’s Wug experiment & order of inflections

Question 17

What is the claim for the Innateness theory

Answer 17

Children acquire language using their L.A.D, there are deep structures common to all, children know there will be word order and comply to it and learn word order.

Question 18

What is evidence for the Innateness theory

Answer 18

Deaf children in Nicaragua, pre- verbal stages up to phoemic contraction, learning labels first, word order, Brown’s regression model, virtuous errors/ overgeneralisations, Wug experiment, stages of language acquisition and imaginative language

Question 19

What is evidence against the Innateness theory

Answer 19

Doesn’t pay attention to the need for interaction, if the innateness theory completely explained it all then children would acquire from just listening, children need interaction, there is a critical period in which to acquire language (before puberty)

Question 20

What is the claim for the Cognitive theory

Answer 20

Children must understand object permanence, intellectual development of a child will reflect on how quickly they acquire language and children must understand concepts

Question 21

What is evidence for the Cognitive theory

Answer 21

The stages at which children can successfully do certain tasks corresponds to the stage at which they acquire and use comparative structures and lexis, object permanence, underextensions and order of inflections

Question 22

What is evidence against the Cognitive theory

Answer 22

Links between language acquisition and intellectual development is perceived.

Question 23

What is the claim for the Input/ Interaction theory

Answer 23

Interaction is important, has to be two way feedback, children are innately skilled at language acquisition and the L.A.D does exist but it should be triggered.

Question 24

What is evidence for the Input/ Interaction theory

Answer 24

L.A.S.S- Language Acquisition Support System, C.D.S- Child Directed Speech, Children learn the process of turn taking and the pattern of question and answer, protoconversations and Haliday’s interaction function words.

Question 25

What is evidence against the Input/ Interaction theory

Answer 25

In Samoa and Papua New Guinea no child directed speech is use and the children are not impacted.