Language acquisition - the behaviorist theory
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The document discusses the Behaviorist Theory of language acquisition, as proposed by B.F. Skinner. Skinner believed that language is learned through observable behaviors and interactions between individuals and their environment, without internal mental processes. He claimed that children acquire language by associating words with objects and responses through reinforcement. However, critics argue that Behaviorism cannot explain how children understand abstract concepts without examples, or how they can creatively generate new grammatical structures not heard before from adults. The document examines the key claims of Behaviorism and the main arguments that have been made against it.
Language acquisition - the behaviorist theory
- 1. The Behaviorist Theory Ameera Qaradi Taif Alenezi Fatimah Alenezi Shoog alzhrani Kholoud Alkhaldi
- 2. Introduction In today's presentation we are going to discuss The Behaviorist Theory. What is its basic idea, what are the claims and arguments against it.
- 3. Who is SKINNER ? • Skinner was one of the most famous supporters of behaviorist, the view of language acquisition known as behaviorism. He considered the child as a "passive recipient", because the child is easily affected when exposed to the environment influences. • To skinner; language was considered as a verbal behavior. language evaluate in this view was depending on observable and measurable. He did not assume any intangibles mental events. • We think that skinner missed the mental factors and internal influences that help to acquire language. observable and measurable are not enough to evaluate language.
- 4. Behaviorists such as Skinner explained vocabulary in order to understand and comprehension the vocabulary , we associate it with motivations and responses. in concrete terms. that is when we observe the process of language acquisition in children, we notice the child acquires certain word by linking it to the object as well linking a particular response with a word. Skinner proposed that: When an infant hears the word “milk” on receiving his bottle, he comes to associate the word “milk” with that nutritive substance. What does Behaviorist Theory explain ?
- 5. What does the Behaviorist claim ? the behaviorism claimed that all language are learnt and that babies only imitate what they hear through some sort of habits formation process which is stimulus, response, and reinforcement.
- 6. Arguments against Behaviorism Chomsky criticize Skinner harshly .but we think his arguments against the behaviorism was so on point . Skinner theory of acquisition is basically concern about imitation through some sort of habits formation process. We are as a human have so much more than just listen and imitate what we hear. We have something innate which actually distinguish us from animals .and there are some of the criticisms: • 1-Skinner said that children need a modeled input to acquire like the words book, pen, and pencil .you can point out at these items and the child will get it .but how would a child understand the abstract words that can’t be modeled such as freedom!! • 2-If children only learn and imitate what they hear from adults, how to explain the child’s ability to create complex and unique structures like:*drinked - *goed
- 7. our Reference • Hummel, K. (2014). Introducing second language acquisition. Malden, MA: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
- 8. Thank you