Language acquisition


What is 'Language Acquisition?

Most would say that it is when we learn a language and the answer is not bad. But, today we will focus on first language acquisition and second language acquisition that make up language acquisition.


First language acquisition refers (in simple words) to the way children learn their native language (with the language they are born with) and Second language acquisition is when we refer to the learning of another language or languages in addition to the native one.




This topic has five important theories that will help us improve our first and second language knowledge.

You might be wondering what are they? Let's check them out! 

Here we will explain it to you!



IMITATION THEORY.

So now I'm going to explain to you what Imitation theory is. This theory basically claims that children learn language by listening to the speech around them and reproducing what they hear. (Dawson & Phelan, 2016)

A clear example of this can be when the mom repeats hundred of times the word "mommy" or "mom" while talking to her baby so the child will be more likely to say the words mom or mommy.




THE ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION OF A GRAMMAR THEORY

This theory assumes that children produce words like goed or grown because they have formed a rule that tells them to add -ed to a verb to form the past tense.

Many children create irregular nonsense shapes like {rang or frought instead of the regular nonsense shape fringed. Such data poses a problem for the Active Construction of a Grammar Theory.


THE INNATENNES HYPOTHESIS

This theory can be explained as a hypothesis that humans are born with at least some knowledge of linguistic structure. According to this hypothesis, language acquisition involves filling in the details of an innate model rather than being a completely inductive process.


SOCIAL INTERACTION THEORY

This theory was supposed to be based on the process of social interaction, complemented by a value analysis of the content of the interaction. 

But the truth is that this personal approach went much further than the classical experimental approach to the study of group dynamics.

Will be a person who may normally bee too shy, for example talk, and sing in public, this people can change their behaviour in a entire group.


REINFORCEMENT THEORY.

Now, in this theory, the adults reinforce the children to make them speak like adults (with the right structure of the sentences). The way that adults reinforce children is by praising them when they speak correctly.

But this theory can be easily contradicted because of the way that when adults try to correct children these attempts fail entirely. (Dawson & Phelan, 2016)

A simple example of this theory could be the next one:

  • Mom: Say "I like mommy."
  • Child: Me like mommy.
  • Mom: No, no, "I like mommy."
  • Child: I...like mommy.


CONNECTIONIST THEORIE

Language acquisition assumes that children learn language by creating neural connections in the brain. A child develops such connections through exposure to language and through the use of language.

For example: a child may hearthe word bottle in differentcircumstances and establishneural connections everytime the word is heard.


● Some myths of language acquisition: 

Adults can't learn a language because it is more difficult for them

This is completely a lie!... There is no specific age to learn a language. We can all learn the language we want when we want, you don't necessarily have to do it when you are young or you are an adult. So... Let's learn a new language!



Children can't learn more than one language when they are under five years of age. 

This is also a lie. In fact, it is better for children to start learning two languages from a very young age because I think it would be an easier way for them because they are learning words from their native language and relating them to their foreign language. Something that would be very helpful is If your family also speaks both languages to ensure successful learning for the children.



English was never given to me and I will never learn it well.

I think that English is a universal language, a language that we must learn, English is something simple that even if it is bad you can learn little by little anyone can get complicated but studying little by little you can speak it perfectly and learn it 100%.

Learning two or more languages from a young age will affect the child's life.

I think that having a language that is yours is perfect, having two is better and more than two is perfect since learning many more languages ​​you have more opportunities in the future and more if it is a child who learns it since it will be more advanced to daily life than others.

Learning Spanish is easier than learning English

I believe that English is a simpler and easier language since in it everyone can learn it since it does not have so many rules, it does not have many things to learn, while in Spanish you have to follow more rules, you have to do more procedures a lot more complicated. 


If a child is not equally fluent in both languages, they are not truly bilingual.

This is just a myth! The fact that someone does not have the same fluency in both languages does not mean that they are not bilingual, verbal communication, along with writing and reading, will go a long way in helping children and adults to retain their second language in the long term.


Bilingual children will have academic problems once they start school.

This is utterly false since children have been shown to have many academic advantages from being bilingual, such as increased problem-solving and multitasking abilities, as well as greater cognitive flexibility.



Now, in this video you will be able to see and understand  better about the theories such as Innatennes hypothesis, Critical Period and Universal Grammar and also explains how it is that children acquire language since babies.

 After watching the video tell us what do you think of this method?





Well , Finally.... We hope you liked our blog very much. But it's not all yet! We have prepared for you a small tests to test knowing! 

Good luck!



Well it's time to go..



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We are team 4 formed by:

Jennifer Zamarron

Katia Reyes

Nathaly Herrera

Osmar Sandoval 

Thank you very much and we'll see again soon!



-Bibliographies:

Adi, L. D. (2021, 16 diciembre). MITOS Y REALIDADES DEL DESARROLLO DEL LENGUAJE - Blog de la Doctora Adi. Medium. https://medium.com/doctoraadi/mitos-y-realidades-del-desarrollo-del-lenguaje-1e8e961d60fe


Wagner, J. (s. f.). What is Language Acquisition? - Introduction to Linguistics. ielanguages.com. https://ielanguages.com/language-acquisition.html


Dawson, H. C., & Phelan, M. (2016). Language Files: Materials for an Introduction to Language and Linguistics, 12th Edition: 9780814252703: Linguistics, Department of: Books. https://www.amazon.com/Language-Files-Materials-Introduction-Linguistics/dp/0814252702

Healthy childrens. (2017). American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 7 Myths Facts Bilingual Children Learning Language .https://www.healthychildren.org/Spanish/ages-stages/gradeschool/school/Paginas/7-Myths-Facts-Bilingual-Children-Learning-Language.aspx

(2020, 30 abril). THEORIES OF LANGUAGE ACQUISITION CONSTRUCTION OF A GRAMMAR THEORY, CONNECTIONIST THEORIES, SOCIAL INTERACTION THEORY. https://lolamaulani.blogspot.com/2020/04/theories-of-language-acquisition.html



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