Assignment No 1

Mentalist Theory of language Acquisition &

Behaviourist Theory of Language Acquisition

Usama Imran

181110026

MA English Language and Literature

Fall Semester 2019

Department of English

School of Arts and Social Sciences

GIFT University, Gujranwala

 Behaviourist Theory of Language Acquisition

Introduction

Behaviourist theory of language learning was completely developed and presented by

BF Skinner in his book Verbal Behaviour (1957) and his followers are known as

behaviourist. It is a learning theory that mainly focuses on objectively observable behaviours.

This theory is based on the idea that all behaviours are learned through imitation. According

to this theory learning is a process of conditioning in an environment of stimulus, punishment

and reward. The main focus on is that learners respond to their stimuli in their environment.

Behaviourists say that learning is nothing more than learning a new behaviour. This theory

basically is concerned with first language acquisition (FLA). The behaviourists claim that the

role of imitation, repetition, reinforcement, and motivation is very significant in language

learning for any L1 learner. Child learn oral language by considering other human beings

(speakers) as a role model for them. BF Skinner also conducted an experiment in which he

used operant conditioning method and gave the idea of behaviourism.

Strengths of the theory

 According to behaviourists language learning depends on human role models,

imitation, reward and practice. Children learn a lot from their models by imitation.

 Child enter in the world with no innate ability and all behaviours are learned. He

famously said “give me a child and I will shape him into anything”.

 According to behaviourist theory, our responses to environmental stimuli shape our

action.

Criticism on Behaviourist theory

  Behaviourists affirm that language acquisition is based on operant conditioning and

they ignore the learner’s internal factor in language acquisition but according to

mentalists, language acquisition depends on UG.

 The experiments conducted in laboratory cannot be implemented on human beings.

 Behaviourism is one dimensional approach towards behaviour and it doesn’t focus on

other type of learning except conditioning.

 Language acquisition depends on innate ability rather than imitation.

 Behaviourism focuses on learning through reinforcement and punishment. It doesn’t

focuses on other types of learning.

Mentalist theory of Language Acquisition

Introduction

Mentalists say, language is abstract, innate and rule governed. In 1960s, Noam

Chomsky developed a theory of language learning known as “Mentalist Theory of Language

Learning”. Chomsky’s theory of language learning was a reaction against the Skinner’s

“Behaviourist Theory of Language Learning”. According to the Mentalist Theory, everybody

possess an innate ability to acquire a language with maturational process and they don’t need

similar conditioning process to acquire a language. Chomsky affirmed that all normal

children have innate properties of language and they can master their native language.

Mentalists introduced a term Universal Grammar (UG) for innate ability of child. They say,

all children unconsciously have basic structures and rules of grammar in their mind and they

need input in form of vocabulary to construct sentences. After this, Chomsky called this

innate knowledge as Language Acquisition Device (LAD hereafter) in an article entitle

“Linguistic Theory”. He claimed that every normal human being is born in a society with a

LAD, which includes the nature and structures of all human languages. The organism of all
human beings has an innate attraction towards language acquisition. This theory also

proposes that the ability to acquire a language is hardwired into the brain and this ability is

distinct without being taught.

Strengths of the theory

 All languages are governed by rules.

 Language learning is an inborn process and innate ability of all normal children.

 Language learning is nurtured by child’s own LAD. It is nurture.

 Children have a Universal grammar in their mind and they learn language by

application.

 Children are revealed to different input but the convergence of input is same grammar

called Universal grammar.

 Basic structure or properties of all human languages are same but these structures or

properties can be transformed into different languages by specific rules existing in

languages.

 All children have a generative grammar that makes them able to recognize the

sentence either it is wrong or correct.

Criticism on Mentalist theory of Noam Chomsky

 There is no physical existence of LAD in mind and LAD cannot be found in brain

because Mentalists didn’t mentioned its place.

 Social and psychological variables are ignored. Universal grammar is exclusively

concerned with the developmental linguistics.

 Well established ideas of biological aid and social environment cannot be divorced.

Social factors are vital necessity of any child for learning.

 Conclusion

All children acquire language through same development path and experience same

practices. Children expose small utterances than they begin to compose their new utterances

of their own because every child is born with an innate ability of language acquisition. Every

child needs some rules to acquire a language and these rules are installed in every child. It is

wrong to say that children learn through imitation because some time we talk in baby talk

way with our children but they pronounce accurate words because they have rules installed in

their LAD. Although environment is necessary for children for input.