1. Reinforcement of a child's verbal and nonverbal responses to language directed at him is responsible for the language learning that occurs.
2. Nativist
2.1. Emphasizes inborn or innate human capabilities
2.2. Major focus of the Nativist perspective is on the acquisition of syntactic knowledge
3. Behaviorist
3.1. Emphasizes the role of “nurture” and considers learning to occur based on the stimuli, responses, and reinforcements that occur in the environment.
4. Interactionist
4.1. Vygotsky's basic premise was that language development is influenced by the society in which the individual lives
4.2. Primary role of social interaction in language development is based on the observation that children acquire an awareness of specific communicative functions or intentions
5. Cognitive Developmentalist
5.1. Emphasis of this perspective is that language is acquired as maturation occurs and cognitive competencies develop
5.2. The cognitive developmental perspective is based in the work of Jean Piaget
