Theories of Language Acquisition Flashcards

Which theorist proposed the concept of the 'Language Acquisition Device' (LAD) as an innate mental structure?

Answer: Noam Chomsky

Noam Chomsky proposed the LAD, an innate neurological mechanism that enables children to acquire language universally.

In Krashen's Input Hypothesis, the formula 'i+1' refers to:

Answer: Comprehensible input that is slightly beyond the learner's current competence

The 'i+1' formula means providing input just slightly above the learner's current level of competence to promote acquisition.

The behaviorist view of language acquisition, associated with Skinner, holds that children learn language primarily through:

Answer: Imitation, reinforcement, and habit formation

Behaviorism attributes language learning to stimulus-response patterns where correct language use is reinforced.

Vygotsky's sociocultural theory emphasizes which concept as central to language development?

Answer: Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

Vygotsky's ZPD describes the gap between what a learner can do independently and what they can achieve with expert guidance.

According to Krashen's Affective Filter Hypothesis, a high affective filter results in:

Answer: A mental block that prevents input from reaching the language acquisition device

A high affective filter, caused by anxiety or low self-confidence, acts as a mental barrier that blocks comprehensible input from being acquired.

Which term describes a learner's ability to produce language that goes slightly beyond their current acquisition level by applying conscious grammar rules?

Answer: Monitoring

Krashen's Monitor Hypothesis describes the use of consciously learned grammar rules to edit or oversee language output.

Which theory emphasizes that language emerges from general cognitive abilities rather than a dedicated language module?

Answer: Emergentism / Usage-based theory

Emergentism and usage-based theories argue that language patterns emerge from general learning mechanisms such as pattern recognition and statistical learning.