Language Acquisition Theories

Language Acquisition

Definition

• Language acquisition is the process by which humans acquire the capacity to understand and use language

Theories of Language Acquisition

• Behaviorist Theory: Language acquisition is a result of imitation, reinforcement, and conditioning
• Innatist Theory: Language acquisition is an innate ability, and humans are born with a Language Acquisition Device (LAD)
• Interactionist Theory: Language acquisition is a combination of innate abilities and environmental factors

Stages of Language Acquisition

1. Pre-production stage: Learners are silent and observe language use
2. Early production stage: Learners start producing simple words and phrases
3. Speech emergence stage: Learners start using short sentences and basic grammar
4. Intermediate fluency stage: Learners increase vocabulary and grammar use
5. Advanced fluency stage: Learners refine language use and develop complex grammar and vocabulary

Factors Affecting Language Acquisition

• Age: Children's brains are more receptive to language acquisition than adults'
• Motivation: Learners' motivation and attitude towards language learning
• Environment: Language immersion and opportunities for language use
• Instruction: Teacher feedback, correction, and guidance

Language Acquisition Devices (LAD)

• Universal Grammar: An innate capacity for language acquisition, proposing that all humans are born with an innate knowledge of language rules
• Poverty of the Stimulus: The idea that children are not exposed to enough language data to learn language through imitation alone

Language Acquisition in the Classroom

• Comprehensible Input: Providing learners with language input that is understandable and slightly challenging
• Scaffolding: Breaking down language tasks into manageable chunks and providing guidance and support
• Authentic Materials: Using real-life materials and tasks to promote language learning

Language Acquisition

Definition

• Language acquisition is the process by which humans acquire the capacity to understand and use language.

Theories of Language Acquisition

• Behaviorist Theory: argues that language acquisition is a result of imitation, reinforcement, and conditioning.
• Innatist Theory: proposes that language acquisition is an innate ability, and humans are born with a Language Acquisition Device (LAD).
• Interactionist Theory: suggests that language acquisition is a combination of innate abilities and environmental factors.

Stages of Language Acquisition

Stages of Language Acquisition

• Pre-production stage: learners are silent and observe language use.
• Early production stage: learners start producing simple words and phrases.
• Speech emergence stage: learners start using short sentences and basic grammar.
• Intermediate fluency stage: learners increase vocabulary and grammar use.
• Advanced fluency stage: learners refine language use and develop complex grammar and vocabulary.

Factors Affecting Language Acquisition

• Age: children's brains are more receptive to language acquisition than adults'.
• Motivation: learners' motivation and attitude towards language learning.
• Environment: language immersion and opportunities for language use.
• Instruction: teacher feedback, correction, and guidance.

Language Acquisition Devices (LAD)

• Universal Grammar: an innate capacity for language acquisition, proposing that all humans are born with an innate knowledge of language rules.
• Poverty of the Stimulus: the idea that children are not exposed to enough language data to learn language through imitation alone.

Language Acquisition in the Classroom

• Comprehensible Input: providing learners with language input that is understandable and slightly challenging.
• Scaffolding: breaking down language tasks into manageable chunks and providing guidance and support.
• Authentic Materials: using real-life materials and tasks to promote language learning.