Theories of Language Acquisition Flashcards

A teacher notices that a young English learner in her class often says things like, 'I goed to the store' and 'She bringed her lunch.' The student has never heard an adult use these words. Which theory of language acquisition best explains this phenomenon of overgeneralizing grammatical rules?

Answer: Nativist Theory (Noam Chomsky)

Noam Chomsky's Nativist theory posits that humans are born with an innate language acquisition device (LAD) that contains a universal grammar. This theory explains that children naturally deduce grammatical rules, such as adding '-ed' for the past tense, and then apply them broadly, even to irregular verbs they haven't learned yet. This demonstrates an underlying understanding of rules rather than simple imitation, which is a core concept of Behaviorism.

A kindergarten teacher sets up a dramatic play center as a veterinarian's office. She provides props and models language such as, 'How can I help your puppy?' and 'It looks like he needs a shot.' Students then practice these roles and dialogues with each other. This instructional strategy aligns with which language acquisition theory?

Answer: Interactionist (Sociocultural) Theory

The Interactionist (Sociocultural) Theory, heavily influenced by Lev Vygotsky, emphasizes that language is acquired through social interaction and collaborative dialogue. By creating a meaningful social context (the vet's office) and scaffolding the language through modeling, the teacher is facilitating language development through guided participation with others, a key tenet of this theory.

According to the Behaviorist theory of language acquisition, championed by B.F. Skinner, what is the primary mechanism through which children learn to speak?

Answer: Imitation and selective reinforcement

The Behaviorist theory posits that language is learned behavior, acquired through the same mechanisms as other behaviors. Skinner argued that children learn language by imitating the speech they hear (stimulus) and receiving positive reinforcement (e.g., praise or getting what they want) for correct utterances, which encourages repetition.

Which of the following statements is most consistent with Jean Piaget's Cognitive Theory of language acquisition?

Answer: Language development is contingent upon the development of underlying cognitive structures.

Jean Piaget's Cognitive Theory proposes that a child's language development is closely tied to their overall cognitive development. He argued that a child must first understand a concept before they can acquire the language to express it. Therefore, the development of mental structures (schemas) and progression through cognitive stages are prerequisites for language acquisition.

Stephen Krashen's Monitor Model includes the 'Affective Filter Hypothesis.' What does this hypothesis suggest about second language acquisition?

Answer: Emotional factors such as anxiety and motivation can block comprehensible input.

The Affective Filter Hypothesis posits that affective variables like motivation, self-confidence, and anxiety can create a 'mental block' or 'filter'. When the filter is high (e.g., due to high anxiety), it can prevent the learner from processing and acquiring language from the comprehensible input they receive. A lower affective filter facilitates acquisition.

The concept of a 'Language Acquisition Device' (LAD) is a central component of which theorist's view on language development?

Answer: Noam Chomsky

Noam Chomsky proposed the existence of a theoretical Language Acquisition Device (LAD), an innate mental faculty that allows infants to acquire and produce language. He argued that this device contains knowledge of universal grammatical rules, explaining the speed and similarity of language acquisition across different cultures.