Language Acquisition - Theories

Question 1

Behavourism

Answer 1

Key Idea: All behaviour is learned, and language is a behaviour
Nature/Nurture: Nurture over nature
Childrens Mind’s: Are a blank slate

Question 2

Innatism

Answer 2

Key Idea: Children are born with the innate ability to learn language. This innate ability is called the language acquisition device (LAD)
Nature/Nurture: Nature over nurture
Childrens Mind’s: Are biologically hardwired with universal grammar (UG)

Question 3

Interactionism

Answer 3

Key Idea: Language exists for the purpose of communication. Their social and cultural experiences make up what is called the language acquisition support system (LASS)
Nature/Nurture: Nature and nurture
Childrens Mind’s: Have an innate ability to acquire language which is lost without interaction with others