Language processing

• Problems with behaviorism

  • Parents don't use grammatically incorrect syntax whereas children do - "I putted the ball there" - not imitating parent's syntax
  • Children find truth and meaning more important than grammatical correctness whereas parents focus on grammar

  Child: I putted the plates on the table

  Mum: You mean, 'I put the plates on the table'

  Child: No, I putted them there all by myself
• 5-7 years old: abstract nouns used - harder concepts