Theoretical Perspectives of Language Acquisition

1. Cognitive Developmentalist

1.1. Focuses on: nature, semantic & morphemic language

1.2. Cognitive development is acquired a children mature

1.3. Theorist: Jean Piaget

2. Interactionist

2.1. Focuses on: nurture & pragmatic language

2.2. Adults play a crucial role in supporting language development in children

2.3. Theorists: Lev Vygotsky, Jerome Bruner, & Michael Halliday

3. Behaviorist

3.1. Focuses on: nurture, semantic/syntactic/morphemic language

3.2. Learning is the product of stimuli, responses, & reinforcements

3.3. Theorist: B.F. Skinner

4. Nativist

4.1. Focuses on: nature & syntactic language

4.2. Emphasizes innate human capabilities

4.3. Theorist: Noam Chomsky