Theories

Question 1

Lev Vygotsky

Answer 1

Thought of Language 1934

Zone of Proximal Development

Question 2

Jean Piaget

Answer 2

4 Stages of Cognitive Development

Question 3

B.F. Skinner

Answer 3

Positive and Negative Reinforcement

Behaviourism - Verbal Behavior

Question 4

Noam Chomsky

Answer 4

Nativist Approach

LAD - Language Acquisition Device

Question 5

Jerome Bruner

Answer 5

Social Interactionist theory
Importance of Caretaker speech
LASS - Language Acquisition support system

Question 6

Ivan Pavlov

Answer 6

Dogs physical responses and behaviour were altered according to external stimulus and contextual factors
Led to the theory of classical conditioning

Question 7

John B. Watson

Answer 7

Classical conditioning was linked to speech to suggest a pattern of stimulus and response.
This led to the proposal that speech was determined by external factors

Question 8

Eric Lenneberg

Answer 8

The biological foundations of language
Children developed language at very similar rates and there was a critical period during which language needs to develop.

Question 9

Catherine Snow

Answer 9

Research focused on the ways in which mothers talk to their children and the connection to the child’s age.
This led to the development of child directed speech.

Question 10

Michael Halliday

Answer 10

Explorations in the development of language outlines the identification of functions of language.

Question 11

Michael Tomasello

Answer 11

Usage based theory of language acquisition

Proposed a focus on the inter-connectedness of language development with intention reading and pattern finding.