Child Language Acquisition Approaches
This page explores additional theories of child language acquisition, providing a comprehensive view of how children develop language skills.
B.F. Skinner's Behaviorist Approach
B.F. Skinner proposed a behaviorist approach to language acquisition, emphasizing the role of operant conditioning in language learning.
Definition: Operant conditioning - a method of learning where behavior is modified through reinforcement or punishment.
Key elements of Skinner's approach include:
- Positive Reinforcement: Rewards or praise from parents that encourage repeated actions.
- Negative Reinforcement: Less favorable responses or corrections that discourage certain behaviors.
Skinner's Four-Term Contingency model explains the process of language acquisition:
- Motivator
- Discriminative stimuli
- Response
- Reinforcing stimuli
Highlight: Skinner acknowledges that children also learn through imitation of others, complementing the operant conditioning process.
Jerome Bruner's Interactionist Approach
Jerome Bruner proposed an interactionist approach to language acquisition, emphasizing the importance of social interaction in language development.
Key concepts in Bruner's theory include:
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Language Acquisition Support System (LASS): Highlights the crucial role of caregivers in language development.
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Scaffolding: Caregivers support language learning through questions, encouragement, and support.
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Child Directed Speech (CDS): A specialized way of speaking to children that facilitates language learning.
Example: Child Directed Speech might include using simpler words like "doggy" instead of "dog" or speaking at a slower rate to aid comprehension and pronunciation.
Vocabulary: Scaffolding - the process of providing temporary support to help a child master a task or concept.
This interactionist approach emphasizes the social nature of language acquisition, complementing the cognitive, nativist, and behaviorist theories to provide a comprehensive understanding of how children acquire language.
