2.1.2 Theories of Language Acquisition

• Skinner's theory of language acquisition is based on the principles of operant conditioning
• Bruner's Language Acquisition Support System (LASS) emphasizes the role of caregivers
• What type of utterances do children produce during the holophrastic stage?

  Single-word utterances
• Match the theory with its key principle:

  Behaviorism ↔️ Imitation and reinforcement

  Nativism ↔️ Innate Language Acquisition Device

  Social Interactionism ↔️ Interaction with caregivers
• In operant conditioning, positive reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior by providing a reward
• The Innatist view suggests that the human brain is biologically predisposed to acquire language
• What linguistic behaviors are observed in children during the 0-1 year stage?

  Babbling, cooing, responds to voices
• What characterizes the Telegraphic stage in language acquisition?

  Uses grammatically correct phrases
• The Nativist theory suggests that children are born with a Language Acquisition Device.


  True
• Match the type of reinforcement with its definition:

  Positive Reinforcement ↔️ Rewards linguistic behavior

  Negative Reinforcement ↔️ Removes unpleasant stimulus

  Punishment ↔️ Applies negative consequences
• Chomsky's Innatist theory proposes that humans have a Language Acquisition Device, which is a biological mechanism.
• What does Vygotsky's Sociocultural Approach emphasize in language acquisition?

  Social interaction and cultural context
• Bruner's LASS contrasts with Chomsky's LAD by emphasizing environmental support over innate ability.


  True
• What is the key principle of Behaviorism in language acquisition?

  Imitation and reinforcement
• Social Interactionism emphasizes the role of caregivers in language development
• What is an example of positive reinforcement in language learning?

  Parent smiles for "mama"
• What is the process by which children learn to understand and use language called?

  Language Acquisition
• What is the focus of Vygotsky's interactionism in language acquisition?

  Sociocultural approach
• In the prelinguistic stage, children babble and coo but cannot yet form words.


  True
• Which theory suggests that language is learned through imitation and reinforcement?

  Behaviorism
• What type of factors influence language acquisition according to the definition in this material?

  Biological and environmental
• The Innatist theory suggests that children unconsciously extract grammatical rules.


  True
• Which theory contrasts with Behaviorism by emphasizing innate language abilities?

  Nativism
• During the Two-Word stage, children form simple sentences like "Mommy eat".


  True
• Match the theory with its key principle:

  Behaviorism ↔️ Imitation and reinforcement

  Nativism ↔️ Innate Language Acquisition Device

  Social Interactionism ↔️ Interaction with caregivers
• According to Skinner's Operant Conditioning, children learn language through reinforcement and punishment.
• What is an example of negative reinforcement in language learning?

  Parent comforts crying child
• The Innatist theory emphasizes biological predispositions over environmental factors in language acquisition.

  True
• What is an example of scaffolding in Bruner's LASS?

  Parent guides child to name colors
• Match the stage of language acquisition with its key development:

  Prelinguistic ↔️ Babbling and cooing

  Holophrastic ↔️ Single-word utterances

  Two-Word ↔️ Forms simple sentences

  Telegraphic ↔️ Uses grammatically correct phrases
• What guides language acquisition in the Nativist theory?

  Language Acquisition Device
• Skinner's Operant Conditioning includes positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and punishment.

  True
• What is an example of punishment in language learning?

  Child is scolded for grammar
• Vygotsky's Sociocultural Approach contrasts with Behaviorism and Nativism in language acquisition.
• Scaffolding in LASS refers to temporary support by caregivers.
• Match the theory with its key emphasis:

  LASS ↔️ Caregiver support and social interaction

  LAD ↔️ Innate biological device
• Chomsky's theory proposes that children have an innate Language Acquisition Device (LAD).

  True
• Order the stages of language acquisition by age.

  1️⃣ Prelinguistic (0-1 year)

  2️⃣ Holophrastic (1-2 years)

  3️⃣ Two-Word (2-3 years)

  4️⃣ Telegraphic (3-5 years)
• During the telegraphic stage, children use grammatically correct phrases and expand their vocabulary
• Behaviorism emphasizes the role of environmental factors in language acquisition.


  True