Babies are born with an
innate knowledge of
language structure
Unique LAD (Language
Acquisition Device) enable
us to learn language.
Genie and feral children support
the critical period hypothesis.
Critical period hypothesis =
language needs to be acquired
within a certain time frame.
Some interaction is necessary
for language development
Children stop overgeneralising and learn to use language correctly.
Children deprived of social
contact can't achieve complete
communicative competence.
Most linguists believe there must
be something innate in a child.
What is innate?
Content
Primary linguistic data
(speech around child)
Innate specific knowledge about language
Internal grammar
Speech
Process
Primary linguistic data (speech around child)
Innate puzzle solving equipment
Internal grammar
Speech
Children internalise language rules and
overgeneralise e.g: walked, ambled, throwed
Wug experiment (1985) -
Jean Berko-Gleason
Supports Chomsky's
idea of LAD
Gave 4-5 yr olds a picture of an
imaginary creature called a wug
3/4s of children formed the regular plural "wugs"
when shown a picture of more than one creature.
Nativist approach - humans have an inbuilt capacity to acquire language
Universal grammar AKA linguistic universals - the explanation
that all world languages share the principles of grammar
despite surface differences in lexis and phonology.
B.F Skinner (1957)
Children learn to speak
through imitation of parents
Children receive
rewards/punishments according
to the accuracy of utterances.
His theory has only been tested on animals.
Children do more than just imitate
They can hear ungrammatical
spoken language but learn
correct language
Children don't
respond to correction
and it might slow
development.
They imitate but don't
necessarily
understand meaning.
Wrote Verbal Behaviour in 1957
Operant conditioning theory
Lev Vygotsky (1962)
Every function in
the child's cultural
development
appears twice.
ZPD = Zone of
Proximal
Development
Level of development
attained when children
engage in social behaviour.
Gap between what they know and
what they can potentially achieve via
socialisation with peers/adults.
First utterances are to communicate
but once mastered they become
internalised and allow inner speech.
Cognitive development is limited to
a certain range at any given age
Social
interactionist
theory
You socialise and it
helps develop your
cognitive abilities.
MKO = More
Knowledgeable Other
Someone with a
better understanding
than the learner.
Bruner
Brought Vygotsky's
ideas into the
Western world.
Crucial techniques: pre-verbal exchanges, games and ritualised scenarios
Scenarios e.g: eating a meal, having a bath
Child gradually moves from passive to active and can predict
language because of the consistent context.
Adult and infant can have conversations even if the child's non-verbal.
Scaffolding = interactional
support structured by the adult to
help the child develop.
Language Acquisition Support System = children
need social intervention to learn things like
turn-taking, politeness ect.
4 phase structure in the mother's
interaction with the child.
1. Gaining attention
2. Query
3. Label
4. Feedback
Adults change language to scaffold child's
learning through Child-Directed Speech
Piaget
Cognitive
theory
Children are born with basic mental structure
which enables them to acquire language
Focuses on development. Doesn't address learning.
Gradual increase in number and complexity of behaviours
It's about developmental stages
Children will learn to speak "naturally" with little intervention.
Language development
goes hand in hand with
intellectual development
E.g: must understand
past tense concept to
use it correctly
E.g: acquiring morphemes beginning
with the participle "-ing", then "in", "on,
"-s" and finally forms of the verb "to be".
Berko-Brown (1960)
The fis
phenomenon
The child knows
what the correct
pronounciation
for fish is but
can't articulate it
The child responds
to fish but not fis
Supports the idea that
children will produce certain
forms when they're "ready".
How should I
write about
theory?
"The data appears to
challenge the ideas of..."
Virtuous error - the mistakes
children make by
overgeneralisation. They've learnt
a rule but are applying it in the
wrong situation.
Start with data and then say
what theorists would think