CLA: Nativism

Question 1

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

Answer 1

Chomsky and Eric Lenneburg

Question 2

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

Answer 2

LAD
Virtuous Error
Overgeneralisation 
Universal grammar
and LASS

Question 3

What is Argument (1) to support Nativism?

Answer 3

• Human language although different in phonology, share similarities.
• Children around the world, develop at similar rate in similar stages of development. (no evidence)

Question 4

What is Argument (2) to support Nativism?

Answer 4

• Through virtuous errors, children attempting to apply rules that they learn but make errors.

Question 5

What is Argument (3) to support Nativism?

Answer 5

• Overgeneralisation too, child produces language an adult has never said.

Question 6

What is Argument (4) to support Nativism?

Answer 6

• Feral children where human input has been limited can still produce some aspects of language.

Question 7

What is Argument (5) to support Nativism?

Answer 7

• Resit correction

Question 8

What is Argument (6) to support Nativism?

Answer 8

• Produce correct language when surrounded by fault adult speech i.e with false starts, incomplete utterances.

Question 9

What is Argument (1) against Nativism?

Answer 9

• Does not place sufficient importance in the role of caregivers, to influence child language acquisition. E.g. Feral child with the example of Genie.

Question 10

What is Argument (2) against Nativism?

Answer 10

• They stop overgeneralising and learn to use language correctly such as irregular verbs.

Question 11

What is Argument (3) against Nativism?

Answer 11

• Need input to give them more skills other than grammar, e.g. pragmatics.