NATIVISM (Noam Chomsky):
Believes language is innate, and that all children have a Language Acquisition Device (A
natural ability to pick up on language)
Believes all languages have a fundamental structure (Universal grammar)
Acquisition triggered by Universal grammar + linguistic input
Language Acquisition Device (LAD) can be shown with the Wug Test.
Wug Test (Jean Berko Gleason):
Children correctly used grammar rules on made up words.
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgB2iMuEZAA
Strengths Weaknesses
Poverty of stimulus (not enough Cannot be proven nor disproven, as LAD is
reinforcement and interaction to pick up proposed to be a built in function of the
language, against Skinners Behaviourism) brain.
Wug Test shows kids know grammar rules
Virtuous errors
What to look out for in an exam:
Children resisting/not responding to adult corrections.
Children creating new words and utterances that they haven’t heard others say before.
(e.g saying Geeses, as nobody with a grasp of English would say that)
Virtuous errors (e.g I goed to the park)
Believes language is innate, and that all children have a Language Acquisition Device (A
natural ability to pick up on language)
Believes all languages have a fundamental structure (Universal grammar)
Acquisition triggered by Universal grammar + linguistic input
Language Acquisition Device (LAD) can be shown with the Wug Test.
Wug Test (Jean Berko Gleason):
Children correctly used grammar rules on made up words.
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgB2iMuEZAA
Strengths Weaknesses
Poverty of stimulus (not enough Cannot be proven nor disproven, as LAD is
reinforcement and interaction to pick up proposed to be a built in function of the
language, against Skinners Behaviourism) brain.
Wug Test shows kids know grammar rules
Virtuous errors
What to look out for in an exam:
Children resisting/not responding to adult corrections.
Children creating new words and utterances that they haven’t heard others say before.
(e.g saying Geeses, as nobody with a grasp of English would say that)
Virtuous errors (e.g I goed to the park)
