1. Behaviorism (Skinner):
* Assumption: Language learning is primarily driven by reinforcement and imitation.
* Explanation: Children learn language by being rewarded for correct utterances and corrected for incorrect ones. They also learn by imitating the speech of adults and other children.
* Criticisms: Doesn't explain the creative aspect of language use, the speed at which children acquire language, or the fact that children make grammatical errors that they have never heard before.
2. Nativism (Chomsky):
* Assumption: Humans are born with an innate language acquisition device (LAD) that contains universal grammar.
* Explanation: This device allows children to rapidly acquire the rules of their native language. The environment provides input that triggers the LAD and helps children learn the specific rules of their language.
* Criticisms: Difficult to test empirically; doesn't fully account for the role of social interaction and input in language learning.
3. Interactionism (Bruner, Vygotsky, Piaget):
* Assumption: Language acquisition is a complex process influenced by both innate abilities and environmental factors.
* Explanation: Children learn language through interaction with their caregivers and the wider social environment. Social interaction plays a crucial role in providing language input and opportunities for practice.
* Sub-theories:
* Social Interactionist Theory (Bruner): Emphasizes the role of social interaction in language development.
* Sociocultural Theory (Vygotsky): Highlights the importance of cultural tools and social interaction in language acquisition.
* Cognitive Theory (Piaget): Focuses on the development of cognitive abilities and their influence on language learning.
4. Connectionism:
* Assumption: Language learning is based on the formation of connections between neurons in the brain.
* Explanation: Children learn language by building networks of neural connections that represent words, concepts, and grammatical rules. The more they are exposed to language, the stronger these connections become.
* Criticisms: Can't fully explain complex language structures or the acquisition of abstract concepts.
5. Emergentism:
* Assumption: Language learning is a complex process that emerges from the interaction of multiple factors, including innate abilities, cognitive development, and social interaction.
* Explanation: Language is not solely innate or learned, but rather arises from the interplay of biological and environmental factors.
* Criticisms: Still a relatively new theory, and more research is needed to fully understand its implications.
Current Perspectives:
* No single theory completely explains language acquisition.
* Most contemporary theories acknowledge the contributions of both innate abilities and environmental factors.
* Research continues to explore the complex interplay of these factors and their influence on language development.
To learn more about these theories, you can search for "language acquisition theories" or specific theory names like "Chomsky's theory of language acquisition" online.