Second Language Acquisition: First Language Concepts

First Language Acquisition

• First language is synonymous with native language, primary language, or mother tongue.
• Generally acquired during early childhood, starting before age 3.
• Simultaneous multilingualism occurs when a child acquires multiple languages early on, leading to multiple “native” languages.

Second Language

• A second language is any language learned apart from the first, often required for education or employment.
• A foreign language is less commonly used in the learner's immediate context, typically studied for travel or academic purposes.

Acquisition vs. Learning

• Language acquisition is a subconscious process where learners are unaware of grammatical rules and acquire language similarly to how they learned their first language.
• Language learning involves direct instruction of language rules, where learners consciously understand and can discuss the new language.

Theories of First Language Acquisition

• Three major theories of first language acquisition (FLA):
  • Behaviourism
  • Innatism
  • Interactionism

Behaviourism

• Proposed by B.F. Skinner in 1957, focuses on observable behaviors rather than mental processes.
• Children are viewed as having a blank slate mind, with language seen as verbal behavior.
• Operant conditioning is crucial for language learning, emphasizing rewards and punishments.

Skinner’s Operant Conditioning

• Learning occurs through associations between behaviors and their consequences.
• Positive reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior repeating.
• Negative reinforcement encourages behavior by removing unpleasant stimuli.
• Positive punishment discourages behavior through negative consequences.
• Negative punishment reduces behavior by taking away privileges.

Key Factors in Language Learning

• Success in language acquisition is influenced by:
  • The quality and quantity of language exposure.
  • The consistency of reinforcement in the learning environment.
• Imitation and practice are fundamental processes in language development.

Examples of Learning through Imitation

• Children learn language by imitating utterances, leading to gradual acquisition of complex structures.