Professional Documents
Culture Documents
However!
Do not make all of the verbs in the sentence in
past tense:
Sleeter (1986) argued that learning
disabilities are socially constructed.
NOT
Sleeter (1986) argued that learning
disabilities were socially constructed. (Unless
past tense is meaningful in that context.)
Announcements
1. The first major assignment is not due until
March 9th. However, you are already working
on it via your readings reviews make sure
that you carefully review the Key Concept
paper assignment description ASAP, so that
you can gear your readings reviews toward
completion of that assignment.
2. Make an appointment to go over upcoming
assignments in advance.
Quick
questions or
quandaries?
Todays Topic:
Introducing theories
of language
development
NOTE!
As of yet, there is no one theory
of language development which:
o Is universally accepted as the
explanation for first language
development, or
o Explains all aspects of language
development: syntax, morphology,
semantics, phonology, and
pragmatics.
Classical Conditioning
What is learning?
According to behaviorists,
learning occurs as a
result of the consequences
of behavior.
Alberto & Troutman, 2003, p. 18
What is learning?
According to behaviorists,
learning occurs as a result
of the consequences of
behavior.
Alberto & Troutman, 2003, p. 18
The A, B, Cs of
behaviorism:
Antecendent
Behavior
Consequence
Operant Conditioning:
Good job!
positive reinforcement,
negative reinforcement, and
punishment
I will bring my homework to
school every day.
I will bring my homework to
school every day.
Modeling:
Learning by watching and imitating.
Quick Write
What understandings about theories
of language development did you
take away from the de Valenzuela
and Niccolai (2004) reading?
He brunged his
lunch
Hypothesis Testing
Formulaic speech (i.e. went)
Rule formation (i.e. ed)
Over-extension (i.e. goed)
Exceptional to the rule (i.e.
went)
he falled down
Mom:
Child:
articles
regular past -ed
regular 3rd person -s
irregular 3rd person
uncontractible
auxiliary
contractible copula
contractible auxiliary
Note:
These are criticisms of behaviorism
as a theory of language
development. It is not a criticism
of applied behavior analysis as a
method of teaching discrete
behaviors.
Misconception Alert!
observation & imitation
operant conditioning
Imitation Behaviorism
It seems quite beyond question that
children acquire a good deal of their
verbal and nonverbal behavior by
casual observation and imitation of
adults and other children [emphasis
added] (Chomsky, 1959, p. 42).
Chomsky's
explantion?
UG and LAD
Important components of nativist
theories of language acquisition are:
o Language acquisition device
o Universal grammar
Inborn structure????
Chomskyan Nativism
The childs language grows in the mind as
the visual system develops the capacity for
binocular vision, or as the child undergoes
puberty at a certain stage of maturation.
Language acquisition is something that
happens to a child placed in a certain
environment, not something the child does.
(Chomsky, as cited in Cowie, 1999, p. 153)
20 minutes!
Main Points:
1. Behaviorism is generally not accepted
as an adequate theoretical explanation
for the development of complex
cognitive systems, such as language.
2. The nativist explanation of language
development, as acquired not learned,
is diametrically opposed to behavioral
theories.
Looking ahead
Social and interactionist
perspectives on language
development
Please take a
minute for the
minute paper.