Theorists Flashcards
Behaviourist
Language develops through imitation and reinforcement
Nativism
Inbuilt ability to acquire language
Social interactionist
Language developed through interaction with adults
Cognitive theory
Children learn language as they physically develop and learn about the world around them
For nativism
Children experience same stages of development at the same pace.
Create language forms that can be wrong but based on an understanding of language. Eg overgeneralisation/virtuous errors.
Produce correct speech even when they don’t hear it
Against Nativism
Children need input to grasp some concepts. E.g pragmatic understanding
When deprived of interaction children done achieve communicative competence. Eg Genie
For behaviourism
Children repeat and imitate words from caregivers.
They are taught politeness.
Against behaviourism
Children do more than imitate - they use words they’ve never heard before.
They can use correct grammar despite being being surrounded by incorrect grammar.
They don’t always respond the correction.
They aren’t always corrected.
Fis test - children can hear and understand correct pronunciation even if they can’t use it.
For social interaction
Rituals and routines teach children about discourse structures like turn-taking.
Children do learn politeness and acceptable behaviour.
Child directed speech.
Against social interaction
Children from cultures that don’t promote interaction still acquire language skills.
For cognitive theory
Children can’t grasp language until they’re ready.
They produce utterances which increases in complexity as they develop understanding.
Against Cognitive Theory
Children can use words without understanding them.
Fis test suggests children can understand what words mean even if they are physically incapable of using words correctly.
