First Language Acquisition and Theories of Development

Flashcards covering the definition of first language acquisition and the four primary theories: Behaviourism, Nativism, Cognitive Approach, and Interactionist Approach.

First Language (L1)

The language(s) that an individual learns first, also known as native language or mother tongue.

Behaviourism

A theory popular in the $1950$'s and $60$'s, proposed by B. F. Skinner, which views language learning as a behavior shaped by imitation, practice, reinforcement, and habit formation.

Positive Reinforcement

A step in language acquisition involving praise or reward to encourage correct performance.

Negative Reinforcement

A step in language acquisition involving corrections to discourage errors or bad habits.

Nativism

A theory proposed by Noam Chomsky ($1959$) suggesting that children are biologically programmed for language and possess an innate ability to discover linguistic rules.

Language Acquisition Device (LAD)

An imaginary "black box" in the brain containing the principles of Universal Grammar that trigger language discovery when exposed to natural samples.

Universal Grammar (UG)

Chomsky’s term for the abstract principles that comprise a child’s innate knowledge of language and guide first language acquisition.

Cognitive Approach

A theory proposed by Jean Piaget ($1952$) asserting that language development is dependent upon and springs from a child’s cognitive development and understanding of the world.

Sensorimotor Stage

Piaget's first stage of cognitive development (birth to $2$ years old) where infants learn through trial and error and activities like shaking or throwing objects.

Object Permanence

An important milestone occurring at about $7$ to $9$ months where infants realize an object exists even if it can no longer be seen.

Preoperational Stage

Piaget's second stage ($2$ to $7$ years old) where children think symbolically and develop imagination, though thinking is intuitive rather than logical.

Concrete Operational Stage

Piaget's third stage ($7$ to $11$ years old) where children demonstrate logical reasoning, operational thinking, and become less egocentric.

Formal Operational Stage

Piaget's fourth stage (adolescence to adulthood) where individuals can logically use symbols related to abstract concepts and formulate hypotheses.

Interactionist Approach

A framework proposed by researchers like Bruner and Vygotsky that focuses on the interplay between environmental and biological factors in language acquisition.

Language Acquisition Support System (LASS)

A term by Bruner ($1983$) describing the collection of strategies parents employ, such as scaffolding, to facilitate their children’s language acquisition.

Scaffolding

An interactionist strategy involving the deliberate use of language at a level slightly beyond what the child can currently comprehend.

Sociocultural Theory

Vygotsky's theory which argues that language develops primarily from social interaction and the origins of thought.

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

Vygotsky's term for the level of performance a child can achieve when supported by a more advanced interlocutor compared to what they can do independently.