Learning Multiple Languages & Theories of Language Acquisition - Chapter 8

Question 1

The Bilingual Brain (Costs)

Answer 1

• Smaller vocabulary in
  bilingual children
• Word access diminished
  in adulthood compared
  to unilingual adults

Question 2

The Bilingual Brain (Benefits)

Answer 2

• Executive functions improved
• Potential health benefits

Question 3

Theories of Language Acquisition

Answer 3

1. Behaviourist theory
2. Nativist theory
3. Interactionist theory

Question 4

Behaviourist theory

Answer 4

• Children acquire sentence structure and syntax through imitation and operant conditioning
  
  • B.F. Skinner (1950s)
• Many aspects of language have a learned component
  
  • Accents
• However, children often produce novel utterances that cannot have been the product of imitation or reinforcement
• Some types of language errors are resistant to feedback
  
  • Overgeneralizations

Question 5

Nativist theory

Answer 5

• Assumes humans have a native (genetic) predisposition to develop
  language effortlessly
  
  • Noam Chomsky (1950s)
• Pace of language acquisition consistent across cultures
• Universal grammar:
  
  • Common grammatical building blocks present in all languages
  • Nouns/verbs, subjects/objects

Question 6

Interactionist theory

Answer 6

• Language development
  involves both biology and
  experience
• Special emphasis on the
  need for social interaction
  for proper language
  development
• Balanced approach to
  nature-nurture debate