UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY

Biglang Awa St., Corner Catleya St., EDSA, Caloocan City

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

(SUBJECT/COURSE)
 
SUBJECT CODE: 502
TOPIC OR LESSON: Three General Language Acquisition Theories
WEEK: 7
SUB-TOPIC/S:

A. What is Behaviorist Theory?

B. What is Innatist Theory?
C. What is Interactionist Theory?

 OVERVIEW OF THE TOPIC

In this chapter we will discuss the Language Acquisition Behaviorist and Innatist Theory. It is
one of the three general language acquisition theories. We will also discuss the definition of
language and language acquisition. Who is the contributor of idea about theory of Innatist
language of acquisition. More importantly, the Principles of Behaviorist and Innatist Theory and
the counterarguments on Behaviorist and Innatist Theory of Language Learning.

LEARNING
OUTCOMES
At the end of the module you will be asked to make a reflection on how the Behaviorist and Innatist
theory affect language learning and teaching.

LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
a. know the principles of Behaviorist and Innatist theory
b.  explain how the language acquisition Behaviorist and Innatist theory affect language learning
and teaching.
c. be able to understand the importance of social interaction;

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 ENGAGE

TELLECTION:

The class will watch a video about baby’s imitation. The reporters will pick three students to
share their reflection about the video.

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvdZwTPoN1c&feature=share

EXPLORE

What is the role of our behavior in

language acquisition?

What is the realation of LAD on innatist

theory of language aquisition?

EXPLAIN

Language is a cognition that truly makes us human. Whereas other species do communicate
with an innate ability to produce a limited number of meaningful vocalizations (e.g. bonobos), or
even with partially learned systems (e.g. bird songs), there is no other species known to date
that can express infinite ideas (sentences) with a limited set of symbols (speech sounds and
words).

Language acquisition is the process by which humans acquire the capacity to perceive and
comprehend language (in other words, gain the ability to be aware of language and to
understand it), as well as to produce and use words and sentences to communicate.

First language acquisition refers to the way children learn their native language. Second
language acquisition refers to the learning of another language or languages besides the
native language.

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Behaviorism (also known as behavioral psychology): it is […] a school of psychology that
takes the objective evidence of behavior (such as measured responses to stimuli) as the only
concern of its research and the only basis of its theory without reference to conscious
experience

The behaviorist theory believes that “infants learn oral language from other human role
models
through a process involving imitation, rewards, and practice. Human role models in an infant’s
environment provide the stimuli and rewards,” (Cooter & Reutzel, 2004).

Behaviorist theory, which is basically a psychological theory in its essence, founded by J.B.
Watson, is actually a theory of native language learning, advanced in part as a reaction to
traditional grammar. The supporters of this theory are Leonard Bloomfield, O.N. Mowrer, B.F.
Skinner, and A.W. Staats.

The major principle of the behaviorist theory rests on the analyses of human behavior in
observable stimulus-response interaction and the association between them. E.L.T. Thorndike
was the first behaviorist to explore the area that learning is the establishment of associations on
particular process of behavior and consequences of that behavior. Basically, "the behaviorist
theory of stimulus-response learning, particularly as developed in the operant conditioning
model of Skinner, considers all learning to be the establishment of habits as a result of
reinforcement and reward" (Wilga Rivers, 1968, 73). This is very reminiscent of Pavlov's
experiment which indicates that stimulus and response work together. According to this
category, the babies obtain native language habits via varied babblings which resemble the
appropriate words repeated by a person or object near him. Since for his babblings and
mutterings he is rewarded, this very reward reinforces further articulations of the same sort into
grouping of syllables and words in a similar situation. In this way, he goes on emitting sounds,
groups of sounds, and as he grows up he combines the sentences via generalizations and
analogy (as in *goed for went, *doed, for did, so on), which in some complicated cases,
condition him to commit errors by articulating in permissible structures in speech. By the age of
five or six, or babblings and mutterings grow into socialized speech but little by little they are
internalized as implicit speech, and thus many of their utterances become indistinguishable from
the adults. This, then, obviously, means that behaviorist theory is a theory of stimulus-response
psychology.

Children develop a natural affinity to learn the language of

their social surroundings whose importance both over language learning and teaching must
never be underestimated. In this respect behaviorist theory stresses the fact that "human and
animal learning is a process of habit formation. A highly complex learning task, according to this
theory may be learned by being broken' down into smaIl habits. These are formed correct or
incorrect responses, are rewarded or, punished, respectively'.(Hubbard Jones and Thornton
Wheeler, 1983; 326). Thus it is clear that the acquisition of learning in infancy is governed the
acquisition of other habits.

Basic Tenents of Behaviorist Theory

The following principles illustrate the operating principles of behaviorism:

1. Behaviorist theory dwells on spoken language.

2. Behaviorist theory is the habit formation theory of language teaching and
learning,reminding us the structural grammar.

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 3. The stimulus-response is a pure case of conditioning. Behaviorist learning theory
emphasizes conditioning and building from the simplest conditioned response to more
and more complex behavior.
4. All learning is the establishment of habits as the result of reinforcement and reward.
5. The learning, due to its socially constructed nature, can be the same for each individual.

Counterarguments on Behaviorist Theory of Language Learning

Needless to say, language teaching anticipates certain theories on language learning because
language learning as a fruitful area that embodies the working of human behavior and mental
processes of the learners. Each theory may not be complete model for the investigation of
language learning. The following counter-arguments can be made upon the working principles
of behaviorist theory:

1) Basic strategies of language learning within the scope of behaviorist theory are imitation,
reinforcement, and rewarding. However, researches made on the acquisition of learning have
demonstrated that children’s imitation of structures show evidence of almost no innovation;
moreover children "vary considerably in the amount that they imitate" (L.M. Bloom, L. Hood, and
P.L. Lightbown, 1974; 380-420). Since children do not imitate such structures like words,
phrases, clauses and sentences at the same rate they will naturally learn at different rates even
though it must be admitted that imitation is very useful in the acquisition of new vocabulary
items. As for reinforcement, "Unfortunately this view of learning receives little support from the
available evidence" (Herbert H. Clark and Eve V. Clark, 1977; 336), for the parents only correct
the sample structures, and complex structures are occasionally corrected.

2) In behaviorist theory, the process of learning relies more on generalization, rewarding,

conditioning, three of which support the development of analogical learning in children. But it
can be argued that a process of learning or teaching that encourages the learner to construct
phrases, clauses and sentences modeled on previously settled set of rules and drills is thought
to obstruct the instinctive production of language. Then, habit formation exercises may not
naturally promote intrinsically oriented language learning.

3) Obstructions made on instinctively-based learning will doubtedlessly harm the creative way of
learning. It takes a long time to be capable enough to master a language at least a bit
intrinsically. There is a threshold level in language learning. This means that learners must learn
consciously supported by repetition and drilling to build up an effective linguistic intuition,
acquisition of which marks the establishment of threshold level. Before obtaining the threshold
level, the language learner is not creative, cannot use the language properly in new situations in
a real sense. it is, then, obvious that the intrinsic learning will be delayed, owing to the Iate
acquisition of threshold level because of previously settled set of rules and drills.

4) The rate of social influence on learning is not satisfactorily explained. To what extent and
rate, does the social surrounding promote language learning? This question remains
unexplained.

5) It is highly unlikely for learning to be the same for each individual; that is, each person cannot
learn equally well in the same conditions in which learning takes place, for the background and
the experience of the learners make everybody learn differently. In addition, according to
Chomsky, there must be some innate capacities which human beings possess that predispose
them to look for basic patters in language.

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6) The main strategies of the behaviorist theory can only be true for the early stages of learning
which takes place when the kids are in infancy and in early childhood periods. Moreover, this
theory is fruitful for the most part on animal experimentation and learning.

 The innatist theory states that learning is natural for human beings. They believe that
babies enter the world with a biological propensity, an inborn device, to learn language
(Cooter & Reutzel, 2004). This human built in device for learning language has been
coined the – LAD - language acquisition device. The innatist theory does somewhat
explain how children can generate or invent language they have never heard.
Researcher, N. Chomsky backed this theory stating that children use the LAD to
generate and invent complex speech. Universal grammar, theory proposing that humans
possess innate faculties related to the acquisition of language. The definition of universal
grammar has evolved considerably since first it was postulated and, moreover, since the 1940s,
when it became a specific object of modern linguistic research. (Barsky,2007)

 Noam Chomsky (2002) stated the innatist theory. He mentioned that children were born with
the ability to acquire language (innate). He argued that language acquisition of children be
related to their innate ability of biological language acquisition device (LAD). It meant that
infants were prewired to analyze linguistics. In his book, Chomsky (2002) provided analysis of
syntax that supports his innatist theory. He claimed that infants had innate universal grammar.
Universal grammar was the template possessed by the children since they were born.
As they grew, they would face language functions.

 Noam Chomsky, in full Avram Noam Chomsky, (born December 7, 1928, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, U.S.), American theoretical linguist whose work from the 1950s revolutionized the
field of linguistics by treating language as a uniquely human, biologically based cognitive
capacity.

 These language similarities are known as linguistic universals. There are many cited examples of
linguistic universals but we will illustrate them here with just one example the use of negatives.

 The Innatist view tends to focus on the internal, mental structures and thinking processes of the
child.

ELABORAT
Behaviorist: E

Arrange the jumbled letters to get the correct answer.

1. HETOYR- system of ideas intended to explain something. (THEORY)

2. ITNMIATOI- infants learn through this process. (IMITATION)
3. IORTIBEAHVS- this theory dwells more on spoken language. (BEHAVIORIST)

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4. TAWONS NJOH- founder of behaviorist theory. (JOHN WATSON)
5. HAVOIREB- the way in which one acts or conducts oneself, esp. to others. (BEHAVIOR)

Innatist:

Now, from the different words given

what is your idea about Innatist Theory
of Language aquisition?

LAD LANGUAGE NOAM CHOMSKY PRESENT

INNATIST THEORY DAVID LEMSWORTH INNATE LINGUISTIC UNIVERSAL

EVALUATE

Quiz
Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. The result of all learning is the establishment of these 2r's.

a. reaction and reference b. reinforcement and reward c. role and rewards
2. Behaviorist theory stresses that human and animal learning is a process of _______
formation.
a. mixed formation b. language formation c. habit formation
3. They develop a natural affinity to learn the language of their surroundings.
a. Children b. Teachers c. Animals
4. It refers to the way children learn their native language.
a. First language acquisition. b. Second language acquisition c. Language learning
5. Behaviorist theory believes that infants learn oral language from others through this process.
a. Imitation b. Viewing c. Hearing
6. The action of talking rapidly mostly done by kids.
a. Speaking b. Babbling c. Stuttering
7. Researches demonstrates that children's imitation of structure show evidence of almost no
innovation. The statement is....
a. True b. False c. I don't know
8. In behaviorist theory, the process of learning relies more on these three ideas.
a. viewing, hearing, reading b. generalization, rewarding, conditioning c. asking, answering,
laughing
9. He was the first behaviorist to explore the area that learning is the establishment of
associations on particular process and consequences of the behavior.
a. Skinner b. Staats c. Thorndike

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10. Also known as behavioral psychology.
a. Values b. Attitude c. Behaviorism
11. The process by which humans acquire the capacity to perceive and comprehend language.
a. Language system b. Language acquisition c. Language varieties
12. This truly makes us human.
a. Knowledge b. Language c. Voice
13. They provide the stimuli and rewards on infant's environment.
a. Human role models b. Animal role models c. Object role models
14. This theory is fruitful for the most part on animal experimentation and learning.
a. Behaviorist theory b. Innatist theory c. Interactionist theory
15. It is the pure case of conditioning because behaviorist theory emphasizes conditioning and
building from the simplest conditional response to more complex behavior.
a. Reward-reinforcement b. Stimuli-response c. Role-reward
16. This was made with regards to the working principles of behaviorist theory.
a. Counter-arguments b. Strategies c. Conditions
17. A thing given in recognition of one's service or achievement.
a. Amount b. Price c. Reward
18. The major principle of behaviorist theory focuses on analyzing their behavior.
a. Human b. Animals c. Plants
19. It takes a long time to be capable enough to master a language. This means learners must
learned consciously supported by ________ and _______ to build up an effective linguistic intuition.
a. Repetition, Looking b. Repetition, Drilling c. Repetition, Asking
20. This theory is actually a theory of native language learning, advanced in part of a reaction to
traditionsl grammar.
a. Interactionist theory b. Innatist theory c. Behaviorist theory

Answer Key
1. B
2. C
3. A
4. A
5. A
6. B
7. A
8. B
9. C
10. C
11. B
12. B
13. A
14. A
15. B
16. A
17. C
18. A
19. B
20. C

REFERENC
ES

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https://www.google.com/url?
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https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://ielanguages.com/language-
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https://www.google.com/amp/s/blog.cognifit.com/language-acquisition-theory/amp/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/universal-grammar

https://www.google.com/url?
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interactionist-learning-app-
73d405fb.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiN3PapotTrAhUjCqYKHSIYDqQQFjATegQIBhAB&usg=AOvVaw1JCTY5qFq7Q
eRp0kukYpER

https://www.sltinfo.com/innate-ability-for-language-acquisition/

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Noam-Chomsky

https://www.google.com/url?
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%2520Innateness%2520Hypothesis.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwio-
qzc49TrAhXVMN4KHY5qAqo4ChAWMAl6BAgGEAE&usg=AOvVaw1jJzsFKUUwuxgcYKGY8Fig

PREPARED BY:
Roniella Mae S. Delos Reyes
Whilda A. Escoto
Brie-Ann Garado
Genrev C. Garcia
Erika Nicole P. Garciano
Jhazmin Aurielle C. Gomez

BSE- English 2A

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