Child Language Acquisition

Noam Chomsky Innateness Theory

The innateness hypothesis is a linguistic theory of language acquisition. Chomsky had a few factors that he used to support his theory of Language Acquisition. His first factor was that between the ages of 3-10, a child is more than likely going to grasp the fluency of the language in its full. After this age it has been considered impossible for a child to grasp the concept of language. The second factor is that children don't need to be triggered to learn language acquisition, they do it all on their own. If a child is around people who speak, the child will try to produce its language by its own accord. Parents can help a child to begin speaking, but they only have a small affect on the child and it will grasp the language by itself. Another part of the theory is that a child will grasp language in the same manner and speak the same way even if it isn't corrected by the caregiver.

B.F. Skinner imitation Theory

Skinner's theory about Operant Conditioning is based upon three types of responses.

1- Neutral Operants-No change in behavior being repeated

2-Reinforcers-Responses that will lead to certain behavior being repeated, therefore having a Positive & Negative affect

3-Punishers-Responses that will lead to the decrease of certain behaviour being repeated

In short, it basically means that we get rewarded for doing good, which will lead to an increase. In language acquisition, it is very easy. Children are rewarded every time they talk correctly, therefore they'll speak the same way in order to get a reward.  Skinner proved his theory by testing rats, subjecting them to electric shock before realising that if they pulled a lever, the shock would stop. This is known as Avoidance Learning. Other rats were placed into a box, and every time they pulled the lever, food pellets would come out.  Thus, they soon learnt that is they pulled the lever, they would be rewarded with food. This is known as Escape Learning.