PY 105 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Language Processing In The Brain, Behaviorism
Theories of Language Acquisition
The nature vs. nurture debate extends to the topic of language acquisition.
Today, most researchers acknowledge that both nature and nurture play a
role in language acquisition. However, some researchers emphasize the
influences of learning on language acquisition, while others emphasize the
biological influences.
Receptive Language before Expressive Language
Children’s ability to understand language develops faster than their ability to
speak it. Receptive language is the ability to understand language, and
expressive language is the ability to use language to communicate. If a
mother tells her fifteen-month-old child to put the toy back in the toy chest, he
may follow her instructions even though he can’t repeat them himself.
Environmental Influences on Language Acquisition
A major proponent of the idea that language depends largely on environment
was the behaviorist B. F. Skinner (see pages 145 and 276 for more
information on Skinner). He believed that language is acquired through
principles of conditioning, including association, imitation, and reinforcement.
According to this view, children learn words by associating sounds with
objects, actions, and events. They also learn words and syntax by imitating
others. Adults enable children to learn words and syntax by reinforcing correct
speech.
Critics of this idea argue that a behaviorist explanation is inadequate. They
maintain several arguments:
• Learning cannot account for the rapid rate at which children acquire language.
• There can be an infinite number of sentences in a language. All these
sentences cannot be learned by imitation.
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Document Summary
The nature vs. nurture debate extends to the topic of language acquisition. Today, most researchers acknowledge that both nature and nurture play a role in language acquisition. However, some researchers emphasize the influences of learning on language acquisition, while others emphasize the biological influences. Children"s ability to understand language develops faster than their ability to speak it. Receptive language is the ability to understand language, and expressive language is the ability to use language to communicate. If a mother tells her fifteen-month-old child to put the toy back in the toy chest, he may follow her instructions even though he can"t repeat them himself. A major proponent of the idea that language depends largely on environment was the behaviorist b. f. skinner (see pages 145 and 276 for more information on skinner). He believed that language is acquired through principles of conditioning, including association, imitation, and reinforcement.
