Language Development Theroies
by Erica Whitley Noel
1. BEHAVIORIST THEORY Skinner
2. The behaviorist perspective suggests that language is learned through operant conditioning (reinforcement and imitation). They emphasizes the role of nurture as the major influence on language development.
3. INTERACTIONIST THEORY Vygotsky; Bruner; Halliday
4. The interactionist perspective argues that language learning is influenced by the desire of children to communicate with others. Language is influenced by sociocultural interaction; meaning that children develop language through relations with the society surrounding them.
5. NURTURE
6. New node
7. NATIVIST THEORY Chomsky
8. The nativist perspective argues that humans are biologically programed to learn language; it is a unique human accomplishment. All people inherit the capacity to acquire language due to cognitive structures or LAD (language acquisition device)
9. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENTALIST THEORY Piaget
10. The cognitive developmental perspective viewed language development from biological perspective. They believe that language is acquired through maturation and grows as cognitive competencies develop.
11. NATURE
