Theories of Language Acquisition
Theories of language acquisition explore how humans learn to communicate. One prominent theory is the Nativist Theory, proposed by Noam Chomsky, which suggests that humans are born with an innate ability to acquire language. This theory emphasizes the role of biological factors in language development, arguing that children naturally understand the structure of language.
Another significant theory is the Behaviorist Theory, championed by B.F. Skinner. This perspective posits that language learning occurs through imitation, reinforcement, and conditioning. According to this view, children learn to speak by mimicking the language they hear and receiving positive feedback from their caregivers, shaping their linguistic skills over time.