Chomsky and Skinner and Theories Of Language Development...

Chomsky and Skinner and Theories Of Language Development Many psychologists have studied and researched into how we acquire language. Some have concluded that the ability to learn language is a genetically inherited skill. Others believe that language is learned following birth and is due to environmental factors. This is part of the nature vs. nurture debate. One of the main psychologists who supported the nurture side was B.F Skinner. Skinner is an empiricist. He put forward the idea that children learn language because of the influence of the environment. Skinner believed that parents would provide more attention and pleasurable reactions when the infant made correct sounds or†¦show more content†¦For example, Please make me a jam sandwich The surface structure implies that you can be turned into a jam sandwich. The deep structure refers to the real meaning, which is please would you make me a jam sandwich from bread and jam. Individual languages use different sounds and have special rules of grammar. Chomsky called these individual rule surface structures. And believed that all languages have the same underlying rules or structures and these deep structures are something that babies are born to recognise. The nature-nurture debate on language is inconclusive. In my opinion it seems likely that learning language has elements of both nature and nurture. I believe there is some genetic influence on language development but also childrens experiences after birth are very important to their development of language. I think Chomskys is correct in the sense of the ability to learn language by a built in or genetic factor. But I believe that the actual sounds, words and grammar that children learn will depend on their environment. The speed at which children learn will also be influenced by their environment. Language Acquisition Emma Smith Skinners Learning Theory Evaluated Arguments For Skinners Theory There has being little direct support for skinners theory. However there has being a great deal of interest inShow MoreRelatedHow Do Humans Acquire Language?1332 Words   |  6 PagesDo Humans Acquire Language? Humans live in a world full of communication. Humans possess a native language that separates them from other animals. Language is developed within the first few years of a person s life. By the time one is a child; he can speak and understand almost as well as an adult. Children world-wide exhibit similar patterns of language acquisition even though they may be learning different languages. 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