CLA theories and Concepts

Question 1

What is Behaviourism?

Answer 1

Children pick up language through positive and negative reinforcement from a caregiver

Question 2

Who made Behaviourism and during what time period?

Answer 2

Skinner
1950’s

Question 3

What is Nativism?

Answer 3

Rules of language are instinctual on some level

Question 4

Who made Nativism and in what time period?

Answer 4

Chomsky
Early 1960’s

Question 5

What is the flaw of Behaviourism?

Answer 5

Too much focus on the external, not enough on the internal

Question 6

What is the flaw of Nativism?

Answer 6

Too much focus on the internal, not enough on the external

Question 7

Name 3 theories/concepts that are more widely used

Answer 7

Critical periods
LAD activation
PPT

Question 8

What are critical periods?

Answer 8

There are certain age ranges/windows that children must learn certain skills. e.g. Genie Wiley

Question 9

What is the LAD theory and who created it?

Answer 9

LAD (Language Acquisition Device) needs to be activated before a certain point otherwise the child will struggle
Lenneberg

Question 10

What is PPT and who put it forward?

Answer 10

Principles and Parameters theory, children copy patterns as well as words to learn they’re correct
Pinker

Question 11

What is social interactionist theory and who crea

Answer 11

That children squire language through social interaction