Language acquistion theories

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Language Acquisition Language Acquisition T.Lama T.Lama level 5 -2 level 5 -2 nd nd Lec Lec Theories of Theories of Language Language Acquisition Acquisition

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Transcript of Language acquistion theories

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Language AcquisitionLanguage AcquisitionT.Lama T.Lama

level 5 -2level 5 -2ndnd Lec Lec

Theories of Theories of Language Language

AcquisitionAcquisition

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IntroductionIntroduction

Three Domains of Language Three Domains of Language Development: Syntax, Semantics, & Development: Syntax, Semantics, & PragmaticsPragmatics

Three Theories of Language Three Theories of Language DevelopmentDevelopment

1. Learning Theory1. Learning Theory

2. Nativist Theory2. Nativist Theory

3. Interactionist Theories3. Interactionist Theories

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IntroductionIntroduction

When we communicate successfully, When we communicate successfully, we do so because we are able to do we do so because we are able to do at least four different things.at least four different things.

FirstFirst, we need to be able to , we need to be able to perceive and produce the sounds perceive and produce the sounds that make up a language and that make up a language and convey meanings to other people.convey meanings to other people.

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SecondSecond, we need to know what the , we need to know what the words of a language mean.words of a language mean.

ThirdThird, we need to know how to put , we need to know how to put these words together in these words together in grammatically appropriate ways such grammatically appropriate ways such that others will understand us.that others will understand us.

FourthFourth, we need to know how to , we need to know how to effectively use our language to effectively use our language to communicate with others. communicate with others.

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Psychologists who study language Psychologists who study language refer to each of these processes by refer to each of these processes by different names.different names.

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How we produce meaningful sounds is How we produce meaningful sounds is the study of the study of phonologyphonology..

SemanticsSemantics is the study of word meaning is the study of word meaning and how we acquire a vocabulary.and how we acquire a vocabulary.

The study of The study of grammargrammar (or syntax) (or syntax) refers to how we learn the rules of a refers to how we learn the rules of a language.language.

PragmaticsPragmatics is the study of how we use is the study of how we use language to achieve communicative language to achieve communicative goals.goals.

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Theories of Language Theories of Language AcquisitionAcquisition

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Theories of Language Theories of Language AcquisitionAcquisition

1.1. Behavioural –( Learning) TheoryBehavioural –( Learning) Theory

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SkinnerSkinner argued that children learn argued that children learn language as parents selectively language as parents selectively rewardreward or or punishpunish only those behaviors which only those behaviors which they recognize as appropriate, they recognize as appropriate, grammatically correct utterances.grammatically correct utterances.

BanduraBandura argued that language learning argued that language learning takes place primarily by processes of takes place primarily by processes of observationobservation & & imitationimitation. Simply put, . Simply put, children overhear language being used children overhear language being used and they imitate the behavior of these and they imitate the behavior of these models.models.

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Learning theory has been criticized on a Learning theory has been criticized on a number of counts.number of counts.

It is simply not possible for parents to It is simply not possible for parents to reinforce or punish all of the possible reinforce or punish all of the possible utterances a child will use.utterances a child will use.

Studies of parent-child interaction show that Studies of parent-child interaction show that parents reward grammatically incorrect parents reward grammatically incorrect utterances that are truthful.utterances that are truthful.

The language that children hear contains too The language that children hear contains too few examples for them to learn the correct few examples for them to learn the correct rules (rules (poverty of the stimuluspoverty of the stimulus argument). argument).

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2. Nativist Theory2. Nativist Theory

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2. Nativist Theory2. Nativist Theory

The nativist view of language development is The nativist view of language development is traced back to the work of Noam Chomsky traced back to the work of Noam Chomsky (1957). (1957).

Chomsky argued that language is the product Chomsky argued that language is the product of an unlearned, biologically-based, internal of an unlearned, biologically-based, internal mental structure. mental structure.

Because the rules which underlie a language Because the rules which underlie a language are too complex to be acquired by children in are too complex to be acquired by children in a few short years, some aspects of language a few short years, some aspects of language must be must be innately specifiedinnately specified. .

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In short, many aspects of language In short, many aspects of language are not learned but are a part of our are not learned but are a part of our biological endowment. biological endowment.

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Nativist theory has been criticized on a Nativist theory has been criticized on a number of counts.number of counts.

Linguists have failed to specify the nature of Linguists have failed to specify the nature of universal grammar. Many linguists have universal grammar. Many linguists have speculated that this may not be possible.speculated that this may not be possible.

Grammar is not learned as rapidly as one Grammar is not learned as rapidly as one might expect if a great deal of innate might expect if a great deal of innate knowledge is assumed. knowledge is assumed.

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Interactionist Theory Interactionist Theory

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3. 3.

Interactionist theoriesInteractionist theories are are concerned with the interplay between concerned with the interplay between environmental & biological factors in environmental & biological factors in the process of acquiring language.the process of acquiring language.

Interactionists tend to view children Interactionists tend to view children

as having a strong biological as having a strong biological predisposition to acquire a language. predisposition to acquire a language.

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However, in contrast to nativists, However, in contrast to nativists, interactionists stress the importance interactionists stress the importance of both the of both the social supportsocial support that that parents provide the young language parents provide the young language learner, as well as the learner, as well as the social social contextscontexts in which language-learning in which language-learning child is instructed.child is instructed.

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Bruner (1983) argues parents provide Bruner (1983) argues parents provide their children a their children a language language acquisition support systemacquisition support system or or LASSLASS..

The LASS is a collection of strategies The LASS is a collection of strategies that parents employ to facilitate their that parents employ to facilitate their children’s acquisition of language. children’s acquisition of language.

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Another strategy is called Another strategy is called infant-directed infant-directed speechspeech or or ‘‘motheresemotherese’’. When using infant-. When using infant-directed speech, parents speak in a higher directed speech, parents speak in a higher pitch, stress important words, and talk more pitch, stress important words, and talk more slowly to their infants. slowly to their infants.

Very young infants show a clear preference Very young infants show a clear preference for infant-directed speech. Gets an infant’s for infant-directed speech. Gets an infant’s attention & increases the chances of their attention & increases the chances of their understanding the message. understanding the message.

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Criticisms of Interactionist PerspectivesCriticisms of Interactionist Perspectives

deVilliers & deVilliers (1992) suggest that deVilliers & deVilliers (1992) suggest that

parents rarely offer their children parents rarely offer their children direct direct feedbackfeedback on the appropriateness of their on the appropriateness of their grammar.grammar.

Linguistic & social practices vary widely Linguistic & social practices vary widely across cultures. Some cultures do not use across cultures. Some cultures do not use anything like the practices described above anything like the practices described above and yet, their children still learn language and yet, their children still learn language at a similar rate to Western children. at a similar rate to Western children.

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ConclusionsConclusions

Each of the three theoretical Each of the three theoretical perspective adds something to the perspective adds something to the study of human language.study of human language.

LearningLearning theory provides some theory provides some thoughts on plausible mechanisms thoughts on plausible mechanisms that might underlie the acquisition that might underlie the acquisition of at least some facets of human of at least some facets of human language.language.

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NativistNativist theory highlights the fact that theory highlights the fact that now all aspects of a language can be now all aspects of a language can be learned in the time that humans learned in the time that humans typically do and thus, that an innate typically do and thus, that an innate language mechanism must be a part of language mechanism must be a part of our equipment.our equipment.

InteractionistInteractionist theories highlight the theories highlight the important role of the social important role of the social environment and the important role environment and the important role social input has in structuring our social input has in structuring our language-learning.language-learning.

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QuizIn brief, Talk about what do you understand from This Lecture according to 1- Learning Theory 2- nativest Theory 3-interactionst Theory

Complete

1-How we produce meaningful sounds is the study of ...............2-...............is the study of word meaning and how we acquire a vocabulary.

3-The study of ..........(or syntax) refers to how we learn the rules of a language.

4............ is the study of how we use language to achieve communicative goals.

5-……..a collection of strategies that parents employ to facilitate their children’s acquisition of language