CHAPTER 4
LANGUAGE ACQUISITION:
HOW LANGUAGE IS ACQUIRED
LEARNING OUTCOMES
-summarize the basic concepts of the behaviorist theory, the theory of
an innate universal language ability in humans, and the social
interactionist theories of first language acquisition.
-explain the basic concepts that characterize the linguistic theories, the
cognitive theories, and the sociocultural theories that support second
language acquisition.
-discuss the language proficiency framework proposed by Jim Cummins
that seems to facilitate acquisition of a learner's second language in a
classroom situation.
LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
is the process by which
humans acquire the capacity to
perceive and comprehend
language, as well as to produce
and use words to communicate.
FIRST LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
Children acquire Children come to
their first language possess a rich
in infancy, system of knowledge
simultaneously with without significant
many other skills. instruction
(Lightfoot 1999, 64, cited in Anderson 2005, 3,
cited in Tahriri 2012, 2).
How children acquire so much
more than they experience?
THEORIES UNDER THE FIRST LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
BEHAVIORIST THEORY
UNIVERSAL GRAMMAR AND
THE LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
DEVICE
SOCIAL
INTERACTIONISM
SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
First language acquisition research
has served as a source of ideas and
techniques for developing second
language acquisition (SLA) theory
(Cook 2010).
Most theories are based on
experimentation and observation
related to learning English as a
second language.
THEORIES UNDER THE SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
• LINGUISTIC THEORIES OF SLA:
• LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
from CHOMSKY TO KRASHEN
• COGNITIVE THEORIES OF
SLA • ELLIS’ TEN PRINCIPLES FOR
• SOCIOCULTURAL THEORIES OF THE SLA CLASSROOM
SLA
GROUP ACTIVITY
BEHAVIORIST THEORY
• The behaviorist theory believes that “infants learn oral
language from other human role models through a
process involving imitation, rewards, and practice.
UNIVERSAL GRAMMAR AND THE
LANGUAGE ACQUISITION DEVICE
• Universal Grammar provides the foundation for
language acquisition, serving as a blueprint for
constructing grammatically correct sentences across
different languages. Chomsky also introduces the
concept of the Language Acquisition Device (LAD), a
specialized language processor within the human brain.
SOCIAL INTERACTIONISM
• attempt to account for • Parents model and provide
the role of social frequent instructed
interaction in fostering correction and feedback,
language acquisition. reinforcing and so
advancing language
acquisition.
SOCIAL INTERACTIONISM
• Vygotsky states that 'speech
plays an essential role in the
organization of higher
psychological functions'.
LINGUISTIC THEORIES OF
KRASHEN
Stephen Krashen is a
renowned linguist,
educational researcher, and
professor emeritus at the
University of Southern
California.
LINGUISTIC THEORIES OF
KRASHEN
provide a comprehensive framework for
understanding the process of second language
acquisition through five hypotheses
1. ACQUISITION- LEARNING DISTINCTION
• Language Acquisition: involves the subconscious internalization of
language rules and patterns through exposure to meaningful input.
• Language Learning: the conscious effort to study and memorize language
rules, vocabulary, and grammatical structures through formal instruction.
2. NATURAL ORDER HYPOTHESIS
• language learners tend to acquire grammatical structures in a
predictable sequence
3. THE MONITOR HYPOTHESIS
• consciously learned language rules has only one, limited, function: to
act as a Monitor aiding in error correction.
The monitor cannot be used unless three conditions are met:
1. Enough time
2. Focused on form
3. Knowledge of the rule
4. THE INPUT HYPOTHESIS
• -language acquisition is acquired by receiving input that is “a bit
beyond current level of competence.
• KEY PRINCIPLE: i+1 principle
5. AFFECTIVE FILTER HYPOTHESIS
• highlights the role of emotions in language acquisition.
LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
• Vygotsky states that 'speech
plays an essential role in the
organization of higher
psychological functions'.
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