Child Language Theories Flashcards
Imitation Theory- Who’s theory is it
Skinner
Imitation Theory- Skinner’s quote
“children learn language through imitating their parents”
Imitation Theory- Evidence for it
Repetition of what parents say
Innateness Theory- Who’s theory is it
Chomsky
Innateness Theory- Chomsky’s quote
“Children are born with the ability to learn language”
Innateness Theory- Evidence for it
Overextension
Input Theory- Who’s theory is it
Bruner
Input Theory- Summarise it
Children have to have interaction and input to learn language
Input Theory- What shows the importance of interaction with others
Child Directed Speech
Input Theory- What is L.A.S.S
Language Acquisation Support System
Cognitive Theory- Who’s theory is it
Piaget
Cognitive Theory- Summarise it
Children have to understand concepts before they use appropriate language
Cognitive Theory- Who is this aimed at
Children from 12-18 months
What did Skinner label children as
naturally good mimics
What is evidence for the imitation theory
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
What is evidence against the imitation theory
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
What is the claim for the Innateness theory
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.
What is evidence for the Innateness theory
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
What is evidence against the Innateness theory
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)
What is the claim for the Cognitive theory
Children must understand object permanence, intellectual development of a child will reflect on how quickly they acquire language and children must understand concepts
What is evidence for the Cognitive theory
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
What is evidence against the Cognitive theory
Links between language acquisition and intellectual development is perceived.
What is the claim for the Input/ Interaction theory
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.
What is evidence for the Input/ Interaction theory
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.
What is evidence against the Input/ Interaction theory
In Samoa and Papua New Guinea no child directed speech is use and the children are not impacted.
