Theories of Language Acquisiton

Question 1

Limitations of behavioral approach

Answer 1

Doesn’t explain for rapid language growth

Utterances produced by children aren’t used by adults (mouses)

Question 2

Contributions of behavioral approach

Answer 2

Current research acknowledges importance of parental input

Behavioral techniques used in SLP intervention

Question 3

Phaycholinguistic/syntactic approach

Answer 3

Chomsky

Human brain contains mental plan/internal circuit; we are prewired for acquisitions

LAD device - language acquisition device - activated by linguistic input

Question 4

Limitation of psycholinguistic syntactic approach

Answer 4

role of cognition in language or parental input?
What we learn vs what we are born knowing
Doesn’t account for parental input

Question 5

Contributions of psycholinguistic syntactic approach

Answer 5

Encourages research across cultures

Encourages naturalistic observation

Question 6

Semantic cognitive approach

Answer 6

Bloom and Lahey
Children’s language maps meaning
Meaning based on cognitive knowledge and prerequisite for language

Question 7

Limitations of semantic cognitive approach

Answer 7

Doesn’t explain why would lag in language despite intact cognition

Question 8

Contributions of semantic cognitive approach

Answer 8

Relationship between language and thought

There are cognitive prerequisite for language

Question 9

Pragmatic approach

Answer 9

Bruner and bates
Language views within framework of social development
Learn in order to socialize and direct behavior

Question 10

Limitations of pragmatic approach

Answer 10

How communication intentions are linked to linguistic structures

Question 11

Contributions of pragmatic approach

Answer 11

Highlights social aspect of language

Question 12

Behavioral approach

Answer 12

Skinner
Depends on environment, mastered through imitation, practice and
Reinforcement
parents are models for children