theories of language acquisition

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2. INTERACTIONISTS
 The INTERACTIONISTS say
that language develops as a
result of the complex
interplay between the child
and the environment in
which he/she grows:
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3. INTERACTIONISTS
CHILD ENVIRONMENT
parents
other children
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4. INTERACTIONISTS
 The
INTERACTIONISTS say
that parents or older
children do not talk to
small children in the
same way as they talk
to other adults.
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5. INTERACTIONISTS
 Rather they adapt
their language to give
the child maximum
opportunity to
interact and learn.
 This adaptation is
called ‘caretaker talk
or speech.’
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6. INTERACTIONISTS
 The caretaker talk or speech
has a number of
characteristics which
distinguish it from normal
speech between adults:
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7. INTERACTIONISTS
2. It is generally
spoken more
slowly and
clearly.
2. It contains shorter
utterances.
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8. INTERACTIONISTS
3. The utterances
are
considerably
simplified,
especially with
respect to their
grammar and
meaning.
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9. INTERACTIONISTS
4. It contains fewer complex
sentences.
5. There is less variety of
tenses.
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10. INTERACTIONISTS
6. The range of
vocabulary is more
limited. The
meanings are chiefly
‘concrete’, relating
to the present
situations in which
the mother and child
interact.
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11. INTERACTIONISTS
7. Extra
information is
provided by the
mothers and
sentences may
be repeated for
clarification.
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12. INTERACTIONISTS
Note…
Caretaker talk or
speech seems well
suited to help the
child learn the rules
and meanings of
the language.
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13. INTERACTIONISTS
Note…
The child by interacting with the
environment has time to become
familiar with the language. When a
child does not understand, the adult
may repeat or paraphrase in order
to keep the communication and
learning going on.
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14. CONCLUSION
 One way to bring the views of
behaviourists, innatists,
cognitists, and Interactionists
together is to see that each may
help to explain a different
aspects of child’s language
development.
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