CSpoken- Skinner

Question 1

Skinner’s theory

Answer 1

Behaviourist

Question 2

Behaviourist theory of language acquisition

Answer 2

Children learn language through imitation and reinforcement.
They copy role models’ language and are either positively reinforced, neagtively reinforced or punished.
This can make them more or less likely to use language in the future.

Question 3

Positive reinforcement

Answer 3

When a child is praised for their behaviour (language use), making it more likely to be done again.
For example, a child asking for milk and being given it makes them more likely to ask in the future.

Question 4

Negative reinforcement

Answer 4

When a child’s behaviour reduces a negative or unpleasant situation, making it more likely to happen again.
For example, a child needing the toilet may ask for the ‘potty’, and be relieved, making them more likely to ask for the ‘potty’ in the future.

Question 5

Punishment

Answer 5

When a child receives a negative consequence for a behaviour, making it less likely to occur again.
For example, a child may swear in front of their parent and be told off, making them less likely to repeat the language again.

Question 6

Strengths of behaviourist theory

Answer 6

-Children acquire politeness from imitation
-Children imitate phonemes, causing them to develop the same accent as their family

Question 7

Limitations of behaviourist theory

Answer 7

-Oversimplifies language to be influenced by external stimuli only
-Children can create sentences and words that they have not heard their parents speak, and therefore haven’t imitated.
-Adults tend to reward truth rather than accuracy, accepting errors and therefore incorrect lexis
-Some cultures (Samoan) do not directly speak to children meaning they receive no reinforcement

Question 8

How to identify behaviourist theory in an extract

Answer 8

Obvious imitation or copying of a caregiver’s lexis
Parental reinforcement- positive, negative or punishment
Accents highlighted in the transcript