Theoretical approaches to explaining first language acquisition

Introduction: One of the most impressive aspects of human development is the language acquisition. It is an amazing feat, which has attracted the attention of linguists for generations. The modern linguistic studies are based on the examination of the main theoretical approaches which explain the child's acquisition of their first (native) language. The basic question in all modern studies of child language acquisition involves finding out what in human language is inborn into the child's brain structure, and what is learned through experience. Based on these studies, it seems clear that the basic capacity to learn language is innate, while the particular meaning connections of individual languages are acquired through the speech community individually to any child. There are three main theoretical approaches to child language acquisition; none of them can fully explain the phenomenon of child language acquisition.

1. Behaviorism: Behaviorism or behaviorist theory as an approach which observes the language was invented by the work of J. B. Watson. This theory claims that the language is observation and experimentation. Behaviorists focus on the observable and measurable aspect of the language, because it can be objectively and scientifically measured, while internal events, such as thinking should be explained through behavioral terms. They believe that people have no free will a persons environment determines their behavior, especially during children early language development. When we are born our mind is (tabula rasa) a blank state which is going to be filling with behavior learnt from the environmentthrough the classical or operant conditioning.

Classical conditioning is based on the experiments of Ivan Pavlov, who had studied animals responses to conditioning (his best-known experiments with the dogs, the bells, and the foot for them).While the operant conditioning is presented by B.S. Skinner by testing Watsons theories(the orphan and the white rat) in the laboratory. Based on these experiments Skinner concludes that the childs experience of reinforcements and punishment determines its behavior. He emphasized on the importance of imitation and repetition in learning process-it is imitation, practice, feedback on success, and habit formation. The acquired language, as well as the consistency of the reinforcement and punishment offered by others in the environment, would shape the childs language behavior.

2. Innatism: Innantism is a theory, a new linguistic approach created by Noam Chomsky which observes the human language acquisition, as a reaction against the behaviorism. It believes that human beings were born with language acquisition devices in their brain which contains universal language (black box). It views language acquisition as a creative process (complex system of rues), and they treat environment as nourishment supporting the usage of language, so it is a biological function development. In his theory Chomsky suggested that there is no need to teach children language since all children were born with an innate ability to discover themselves. He argues that behaviorism cannot provide sufficient explanations for childrens language acquisition; contrary to it children are biologically program for the language, so it is developed in the same way like other biological functions. Eric Lenneberg's concept of a critical period(CPH) is the best evidence for Chomskys proposal, but even with the abundant evidence which Chomsky presents supporting his theory of language acquisition, there are still many linguistics and psychologists who do not believe that the language is as innate.

3. Interactionism: Interactionism is a theory which believes that language acquisition and meaning is formed through the individual interactions and their effects within the society. According to the interactionism the language development is both biological and social and it is influenced by the desire of children to communicate with others. The children are born with a powerful brain that grows slowly and leads them to acquire new understandings whiten the surrounding environment. Individuals choose how they want to behavior, because of the way they perceive themselves from the interaction with other people. Lev Vygotsky is the main theorist associated with this approach of the language acquisition. Interactionists focus on Vygotsky's model of collaborative learning. In that idea the conversations with older people help children both cognitively and linguistically. According to him, humans use tools that develop from a culture, such as speech and writing in order to mediate their social environments. Initially children develop these tools to serve solely as social individuals. David Hargreaves, Hester and Mellor represent another point of view in the field of interactionists theory of education. It concerns the ways in which teachers make sense and respond to the behavior of their pupils. In this presentation they use interpretivist research methods. This is known as the halo effect, where pupils are stereotyped on earlier non-academic impressions. Jean Piaget is a theorist who represents another different idea in the interactionism (cognitive theory), opposing Vygotskys zone of proximal development. He believed that the most important source of cognition is the children themselves.

Conclusion: The importance of studying these theories is that they show us what causes children to acquire their first language, how does it happen and what it is so important for them to do it. They give us prospective to analyze the process of language acquisition. Behaviorism as a theoretical approach has its pros and cons. It means that the principles, on which it is based, especially of operant conditioning, still play an important role in the way we approach learning and behavior modification today. But in the same way without referring to mental processes it is impossible to explain some learning processes, occurring in the childs development. Innantism is an enough rich theoretical approach to provide a substantial idea of how a child acquires his/her first language, but it does not have sufficient scientific evidence because it is more an abstract idea. It is also not as effective in the practical learning situations as it is supposed to be, because child tends to learn language to which he/she is exposed to, not only the correct one. Interactionism is a theoretical approach for which is difficult to explain how two such different things mind- body could influence one another. References : Brown, D. (1994) Principles of Language Learning and Teaching. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall Regents. Lightbown, P. & Spada, N. (2006) How Languages Are Learned. Oxford: Oxfprd University Press soda.ustadistancia.edu.co/enlinea/MAURICIO_BUITRAGO_ingles_PSYCHOLINGUIS TICS_PRIMER_MOMENTO/Innatism.pdf http://www.essortment.com/b-f-skinner-behaviorism-35995.html http://www.slideshare.net/vanneza06/theory-of-languange

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