D3.4 Bruner’s Language Acquisition Support System (LASS)

What was Bruner influenced by when creating his theory?

Many theoretical ideas, including those of Piaget, believing that children are born with the innate and natural curiosity so are active in their own learning.

What did Bruner argue?

Though he did acknowledge Chomsky’s LAD theory, Bruner argued that there was another social system which was essential for children to learn language.

• So he came up with the idea of the LASS

What did the Language Acquisition Support System (LASS) theory rely on?

The idea that children require a lot of interaction with people and support of other users who use the same language, mainly their primary caregivers, to really grasp the language they are learning.

What are the ways in which adults help children learn language?

• Scaffolding

• Routines

• Joint attention

• Child directed speech

• Turn taking

What is scaffolding?

Giving just enough help for the child to succeed, then slowly reducing help as they improve.

• Adult says “Say ‘more juice’, can you try?”

• Model and correct child’s pronunciation

What are routines?

Using everyday routines (mealtimes, bath times), to teach language.

• “Time to brush your teeth!”, child hears and learns the phrase daily

What is joint attention?

Both adult and child focus on the same thing, helping learning.

• Pointing to a dog and saying “Look! A Dog!”

What is child-directed speech?

Adult naturally speaks more slowly, clearly and with a higher pitch to help child understand.

• (Excited tone/voice) “You want the teddy? Here’s the teddy!”

What is turn-taking?

Teaching children how to have conversations by turn taking.

• Parent: “How are you?”

• Child: “Happy!”

• Parent: “That’s great! I’m…”

Why is Bruner’s LASS theory helpful to early years professionals? How can it support language development?

It shows that adults play an active role in supporting children’s language development.

• Early years professionals support language by scaffolding, modelling correct language, using routines and games, and responding to children’s attempts to communicate.

• This helps children build vocabulary, confidence, and conversational skills

How does Bruner differ from Skinner?

Unlike Skinner, who focused only on rewards and reinforcement, Bruner looked at the social and interactive ways children learn.

How does Bruner differ from Chomsky?

Unlike Chomsky who said language is mostly innate (natural in the brain), Bruner believed in the importance of social environment and adult help.

What are the 3 modes of cognitive development for children?

1. Enactive stage - Action based (0-3yrs); Perceive the environment solely through actions thinking is based on physical actions

2. Iconic stage - Image stage (3-6yrs); Imagining or thinking about actions without experiencing but more on the use of mental image

3. Symbolic stage (7+ years); Thinking and talking in abstract term, knowledge in the form of words, symbols, music, language