1.2. Focuses on inborn language mechanism and acquisition of syntactic knowledge.
1.3. Sides with nature in nature vs. nurture debate.
1.4. Universal grammar - the system of principles, conditions and rules that are elements or properties of all human language.
1.5. Example: different languages can structure the same message.
2. Behaviorist
2.1. B.F. Skinner
2.2. Learning occurs based on the stimuli, responses and reinforcements that occur in the environment.
2.3. "Tabula rasa" - blank slate
2.4. Operant conditioning - when a certain behavior is followed by a particular result, that consequence influences whether the behavior will be repeated.
3. Cognitive Developmentalist
3.1. Jean Piaget
3.2. Language is acquired as maturation occurs and cognitive tendencies develop.
3.3. Object permanence - an awareness that an object continues to exist even when it is out of site.
3.4. Preoperational stage - from 2-7 years of age, when children begin to represent the world with words, images and drawings.
4. Interactionist
4.1. Lev Vygotsky
4.2. Children acquire language to communicate with the world around them - challenges the idea that language development is "natural" and does not require concious effort.
4.3. Language development is influenced by the society in which the individual lives.
4.4. Focus is on language development process rather than on language as a product of development.
