Skinner was a prominent behaviorist who argued that language acquisition, like any other behavior, is learned through conditioning. He believed that children learn to speak by being rewarded for making sounds that resemble words and then for uttering complete sentences. This theory is known as operant conditioning.
While Skinner's theory was influential, it has been largely discredited by modern linguists and psychologists. Research has shown that children learn language much faster and more complexly than can be explained by simple reinforcement. They acquire grammar and syntax without explicit instruction, suggesting innate cognitive abilities play a key role.