Cognitive Theory Flashcards
Jean Piaget placed acquisition of language within…
The context of a child’s mental or cognitive development
He argued that a child has to…
Understand a concept before they can acquire the particular language form which expresses that concept
Piaget argued that there will be a point in a child’s intellectual development when…
They can compare objects with respect to size
Piaget suggested that a child who hadn’t reached this stage would not be able to…
Learn and use comparative adjectives like ‘bigger’ and ‘smaller’
What is object permanence?
Phenomenon often cited in relation to cognitive theory. During the first year of life, children are unaware of the existence of objects they cannot see but by the time they reach 18 months, children have realised that objects have an existence independently of their perception.
Cognitive theory draws attention to…
The large increase in children’s vocabulary at around this age suggesting a link between object permanence and the learning of labels for objects
Criticisms of Cognitive Theory
During the first year to 18 months, those connections are possible to trace but as a child continues to develop, it becomes harder to find clear links between language and intellect.
Some studies have focused on children who have learned to speak fluently despite abnormal mental development. Syntax in particular does not appear to rely on general intellectual growth.
