Critically outline research into language acquisition

Title: Critically outline research into language acquisition
Category: Literature / English
Details: Words: 868 | Pages: 3.7 (approximately 235 words/page)

Critically outline research into language acquisition

The study of languages is known as psycholinguistics. These are studies in terms of verbal and non-verbal communication. There are two main theories of language, the Learning Theory, which branches out into Skinner’s reinforcement theory and Bandura’s imitation theory, and the Biological theory which branches out into Chomsky’s innate LAD and Lennenberg’s ‘Critical Periods’. These are theories based on ‘nature’ or ‘nurture’, i.e. whether language is learnt through reinforcement and …showed first 75 words of 868 total…

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…showed last 75 words of 868 total…second language, so a sensitive period rather than a critical period would be more accurate. It is suggested that learning must be part of a process for words such as ‘goed’ to change to ‘went’. The LAD is vague and cannot explain single word utterances which have no grammar, thus it is a weak explanation of language acquisition. It is also clear to say that this theory overstates the automatic and independent nature of acquisition.

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