Theoretical Perspectives
by Peggy Dismuke
1. Cognitive Developmentalist:
1.1. Piaget, J.
1.2. Role of nature
1.3. "Language is acquired as maturation occurs and cognitive competencies develop" (Otto, 2010, p. 30).
1.4. Focus is on semantic and morphemic knowledge.
2. Interactionist:
2.1. Vygotsky, L., Burner, J., & Halliday, M.
2.2. Role of nurture
2.3. "Children acquire language through their attempts to communicate with the world around them" (Otto, 2010, p. 33).
2.4. Focus is on pragmatic knowledge.
3. Nativist:
3.1. Chomsky,N.
3.2. Role of nature: inborn or innate human capabilities
3.3. Everyone is capable of "acquire language due to cognitive structures that process language differently from other stimuli" (Otto, 2010, p. 28).
3.4. Focus is on syntactic knowledge
4. Behaviorist:
4.1. Skinner, B.
4.2. Role of nurture
4.3. "Learning occurs due to associations established between stimuli, responses, and events that occur after the response behavior" (Otto, 2010, p.
4.4. Focus is on semantic, syntactic, and morphemic knowledge.
