Language Theories: Behavioral Approach

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Questions and Answers

B.F. Skinner is known for his theory of ______ which applies reinforcement or punishment to behavior.

operant conditioning

Skinner's book, published in 1957, is titled ______ Behavior.

Verbal

Skinner's theory is based on the logic of ______, which includes antecedent, behavior, and consequence.

behaviorism

______ reinforcers help fulfill basic survival needs in infants.

Primary Signup and view all the answers

Skinner describes ______ as responses to internal states like hunger or pain.

mands Signup and view all the answers

Echoics involve learning through ______.

imitation Signup and view all the answers

Extended tacts result from ______ generalization.

stimulus Signup and view all the answers

Skinner's concept of autoclitics addresses issues of ______ and grammar.

syntax Signup and view all the answers

A lot of the evidence-based treatment procedures in speech-language pathology are behavioral procedures based on Skinner’s operant ______.

conditioning Signup and view all the answers

Currently, it is called 'Applied ______ analysis' (ABA).

behavioral Signup and view all the answers

Critics argue that these procedures focus only on language use, not ______ or meaning.

form Signup and view all the answers

From Chomsky, Skinner’s theory does not fully explain the rapid pace of language ______.

acquisition Signup and view all the answers

Bloom and Lahey view language as a tool to represent information in ______.

messages Signup and view all the answers

The code is the ______ of language.

form Signup and view all the answers

Language is a ______ with rules delineating how sounds can combine to form words.

system Signup and view all the answers

The question 'Is there anything tree-like about the word ______?' highlights the arbitrary nature of language.

tree Signup and view all the answers

Language represents shared ______

knowledge Signup and view all the answers

Dogs and cats use specific sounds to ______ with humans.

communicate Signup and view all the answers

The form of language includes sounds, words, and ______.

sentences Signup and view all the answers

According to Skinner, learning is seen as operant ______.

conditioning Signup and view all the answers

Noam Chomsky is regarded as the founder of modern ______.

linguistics Signup and view all the answers

The cognitive revolution in linguistics focused on the ______ basis of language.

biological Signup and view all the answers

Bloom and Lahey add notions of form and ______ to the language framework.

content Signup and view all the answers

Chomsky’s review of Skinner’s work was considered a definitive ______ of behaviorist views on language.

refutation Signup and view all the answers

Language competence includes the understanding of content, form, and ______.

use Signup and view all the answers

Universal grammar suggests that the basic principles of all languages are innately ______ within the human mind.

represented Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Theories of Language

Behavioral Theory (B.F. Skinner, 1957)

B.F. Skinner, prominent psychologist (1904-1990), known for "radical behaviorism" and rejection of free will.
Developed concept of operant conditioning: behavior shaped by reinforcement or punishment.
In "Verbal Behavior" (1957), proposed that language development can be analyzed functionally through reinforcement.
Language development follows the logic: Antecedent (stimulus) > Behavior (response) > Consequence (reinforcement).
Language acquisition begins with external stimuli and back-and-forth caregiver-infant interactions.

Reinforcers

Primary reinforcers satisfy basic needs, such as food and comfort from caregivers.
Secondary reinforcers address non-biological needs like interaction (e.g., peek-a-boo, talking).
Consistent responses from caregivers shape infant responses and language learning.

Verbal Operants

"Mands": Requests made in response to needs.
"Echoics": Imitation and repetition for language learning.
"Tacts": Commenting on the environment without requesting something.
"Extended tacts": Generalization where known responses are applied to new, similar stimuli.
"Autoclitics": Relate to syntax and grammar, dealing with language structure and rules.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

Many speech-language pathologies use Skinner's behavioral procedures.
ABA is a modern application of operant conditioning in treatment.

Criticisms of Skinner's Theory

Focuses only on language use, neglecting forms (sounds, words) and meanings.
Chomsky's critique: Skinner does not account for the speed of language acquisition or creativity in sentence generation.

Language as Defined by Lois Bloom & Margaret Lahey (1978)

Both authors influential in speech-language pathology, focused on language development in children with disorders.
Language serves as a means to convey information and a social tool for interaction.

Key Definitions

Code: Represents objects/events through sounds and movements; encoding combines code elements to create messages, while decoding interprets them.
System: Rules for combining sounds, words, and sentences; allows for infinite possible combinations.
Convention: Arbitrary relationship between words and their meanings; reflects shared knowledge within a community.

Functional Dimensions of Language

Content: Organized categories of meaning; universal yet culturally specific.
Form: Connection of sounds with meaning; encompasses phonology, grammatical structures, and types of sentences.
Use: Social function driving communication; context influences linguistic choices.

Integrated Language Competence

Comprises content, form, and use; builds understanding and production behaviors.
Bloom & Lahey introduced a combined approach, addressing how children develop a mental plan connecting sounds and meanings.

Noam Chomsky

Born 1928, regarded as founder of modern linguistics; introduced cognitive perspectives in language studies.
Proposed that innate principles of language exist within the human mind and are used to construct grammar unconsciously.
Challenged Skinner's behaviorist framework through 1959 review, pointing out its limitations in explaining new sentence generation.

Universal Grammar

Concept posits that humans possess an inherent linguistic structure that guides language acquisition and understanding.

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Description

Explore the theories of language with a focus on B.F. Skinner's behavioral approach. This quiz delves into concepts such as operant conditioning and its implications for understanding language acquisition. Discover Skinner's radical behaviorism and his influential work in verbal behavior.