Child language acquisition

Theories

What was Skinner’s theory called and what were his ideas?

Skinner’s theory is called behaviourism and is the idea language is learned through imitation, reinforcement and repetition. Correct language is rewarded and incorrect language is discouraged.

What are the strengths of Skinner’s behaviourism?

It explains early single words and phrases

What are the weakness of Skinner’s behaviourism?

It doesn’t explain why children say things they have never heard before and doesn’t explain grammar development well.

What was Chomsky’s theory called and what were his ideas?

Chomsky’s theory is called nativism and it is the idea humans are born with an innate ability to learn language.

What are the strengths of Chomsky’s nativism?

Explains creativity and speed of language learning

What are the weaknesses of Chomsky’s nativism?

LAD cannot be directly proven and social interaction is underplayed

What was Piaget’s theory called and what were his ideas?

Piaget’s theory was called cognitive theory and was the idea that language just develops as part of a general cognitive development. He thought that children need to understand concepts before expressing them and that thought comes before language. (E.g. a child needs to understand time before using past tense correctly).

What are the strengths of Piaget’s cognitive theory?

It links language to overall development

What are the weaknesses of Piaget’s Cognitive theory?

Underestimates how early children use complex language

What is Vygotsky’s theory called and what were his ideas?

Vygtosky’s theory is called social interactionism and is the idea that learning happens in the Zone of Proximal Development with adults providing scaffolding to support this learning. It is commonly carried out with Child Directed Speech and turn taking in interactions.

What are the strengths of Vygtosky’s social interactionism?

It explains the importance and benefit of caregivers.

What are the weaknesses of Vygotsky’s social interactionism?

There is less of a focus on biological factors

What is Bruner’s theory called and what were his ideas?

Bruner’s theory is called interactionist theory and is the idea that language is learned through interaction with caregivers. Adults provide act as a language acquisition support system by providing routine and using child directed speech.

What are the strengths of Bruner’s interactionist theory?

It explains the role of environment without ignoring innate ability

What are the weaknesses of Bruner’s interactionist theory?

Places too much emphasis on caregiver interaction

What is Halliday’s theory called and what were his ideas?

Halliday’s theory is called functional theory and is the idea that children learn language to fulfil functions. These functions are Instrumental (I want), regulatory (controlling others), interactional (social relationships), personal (expressing feelings), heuristic (asking questions), imaginative (storytelling) and representational (conveying information)

What are the strengths of Halliday’s functional theory?

It explains early language use

What are the weaknesses of Halliday’s functional theory?

It focuses more on use than structure