CLA: Cognitive Theory (Includes Piaget's SOD)

Question 1

Who are the three theorists that contribute to this theory the most?

Answer 1

Jean Piaget
Michael Tomasello
Lev Vygostky

Question 2

What key concepts do you need to know for this theory?

Answer 2

• Cognitive development
• More knowledgeable other
• Zone of proximal development
• Usage-based linguistics
• Scaffolding

Question 3

What is Argument (1) to support Cognitive theory + SOD?

Answer 3

• Stage of development has shown that Children can’t grasp aspects of language until they are ready.

Question 4

What is Argument (2) to support Cognitive theory + SOD?

Answer 4

• Children produce utterances which increase in complexity as they work towards mastering a rule.

Question 5

What is Argument (3) to support Cognitive theory + SOD?

Answer 5

• For a child to be able to complete the stage of development, they need aid from an adult.

Question 6

What is Argument (4) to support Cognitive theory + SOD?

Answer 6

• Children produce generalisations and virtuous errors but as they get older, they learn more about language and these errors mitigate.

Question 7

What is Argument (1) against Cognitive theory + SOD?

Answer 7

• Children with cognitive difficulties can still manage to use language beyond their understanding

Question 8

What is Argument (2) against Cognitive theory + SOD?

Answer 8

• They acquire language without understanding it especially in the early stages of development

Question 9

What is the evidence supporting Argument (Against) 2?

Answer 9

• ‘Fis’ phenomenon
by Berko & Brown suggests children’s cognitive understanding can still be present but their physical development still impacts their ability to use language. Although unable to produce the phoneme ‘sh’ they still affirmed that it was still ‘Their fish’ and rejected the ‘fis’ phoneme.