Similarities and differences between Behaviorist and Innatist Theory.doc

Topic: Similarities and diferences between Behaviorist and Innatist Theory

 The manner in which a child acquires acquires language is a matter matter long debated by linguists linguists and Child  psychologists. During the twentieth century there has been a great deal of Psycholinguistic research into how this process takes place. These research findings have revolutionized the way many many lingui linguists sts regard regard the languag languagee learni learning ng proces process. s. Howeve Howeverr the interp interpret retati ation on of these these investigations has always been under dispute and it consequently divided linguists into adherents of two contrad contradict ictory ory hypothe hypotheses ses!! behavio behavioris rism m on one side side and innati innatism sm on the other other.. The follow following ing segmen segmentt presen presents ts a compar comparati ative ve study study betwee between n these these two diamet diametric ricall ally y opposi opposite te theoretical accounts of language acquisition. Behaviorist Theory:

The behaviorist perspective dominated the study of learning throughout the "st half of the twentieth century. The #ehaviorist Theory focuses on the use of imitation and practice for  language acquisition. $ccording to this theory babies learn oral language from the humans in their environment through imitation rewards and practice. %hen a baby tries to speak a word and succeeds parents and other adults in his world often praise him. This propels the child to try harder harder to achieve achieve more. more. #ehavi #ehaviori orism sm is an approa approach ch to langua language ge acquis acquisiti ition on based based on the  proposition that behavior can be researched scientifically without recourse to inner mental states. &t is a form of materialism denying any independent signi'cance for mind. The behaviorist theory emerges on the basis of following assumptions!

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(anguage learning is a habit formation resembling the formation of other habits. That is a language is learned in the way in which other habits are learned. )ree will is illusory and all behavior is determined by the environment either through association or reinforcement. Human acquire a language as discrete units of habits independently trained not as an integrated system.

This theory puts emphasis on three important factors * stimulus response and reinforcement. The +stimulus * response * reinforcement, chain can be en visaged through the following illustration!

Innatist Theory

Two years later when behaviorism came in for a bitter criticism the $merican linguist -oam Chomsky "/0/1 proposed a completely different view of language acquisition. His &nnatist view was a direct challenge to the established behaviorist theories of the time rekindling the age*old debate over whether whether language e2ists e2ists in the mind before e2perience e2perience or not. This oral language language development theory states that learning is a natural process for human beings. The &nnatist Theory gives rise to the (anguage $cquisition Device ($D1 which is thought to be a part of the  brain that enables all children to grasp language naturally. naturally. However the &nnatist Theory fails to e2plain why children from different cultures and environments vary in the time taken to develop oral language. The &nnatist Theory is more widely accepted and understood than the #ehaviorist Theory. The theoretical assumptions underlying the &nnatist theory is as follows! 

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3very 3very human human child child posses possesses ses innate innate knowled knowledge ge of languag languagee struct structure ure which which called called (anguage $cquisition Device or ($D. (anguage learning is distinct from other cognitive capacities. 4oung children learn and apply grammatical rules and vocabulary as they are e2posed to them and do not require initial formal teaching.

The function of ($D can be visualized through the following illustraon:

Similarities between Behaviorist Theory & Innatist Theory Though there are much debate and differences between #ehaviorist and &nnatist Theory they have some similarities! similarities! ". #oth #oth are the theo theory ry of langua language ge learn learning ing.. 5. #oth of these these theories theories help help to describe describe some some aspects aspects of first first language language acquisit acquisition. ion. 6. -either -either the behaviori behaviorist st nor the the innatist innatist theories theories are are able to adequate adequately ly encompass encompass the comple2ity of language acquisition. 7. #oth of them them are some some way logical logical in some some aspect of of acquiring acquiring first first language. language. 0. #oth of them them are not totall totally y independent independent one has been been corrected corrected by the the other. other. 8. #oth of them them have emphasis emphasis on on a specific specific part of language language learnin learning g process process but none of them is completely9wholly appropriate for first language learning.

Differences Differences between Behaviorist Theory& Innatist Theory Considering the theoretical principles of #ehaviorist and &nnatist theory we find that each theory holds different different aspects of language language acquisitio acquisition. n. This divergence divergence has created created a gulf between the theories.The difference between Behaviourism and innatism can be described in the following way:

Behaviorist Theory ". $ccord $ccording ing to to behavi behaviour ourism ism langua language ge is learnt in the way other habits are learnt. 5. Through Through behavi behaviour ourist ist theor theory y language language acquisition is a stimulus response  process. 6. &n behav behaviou iouris rism m knowl knowledg edgee is seen seen as as constant. 7. &n behav behaviou iouris rism m learni learning ng is said said to be successful when the child can repeat what was taught.

Innatist Theory ". $ccord $ccording ing to innati innatism sm langua language ge develops in the same way as other  biological functions. 5. (angua (anguage ge acqui acquisit sition ion is is a conge congenit nital al  process. 6. &n innati innatism sm :nowle :nowledge dge is seen seen dynamic. 7. &n inna innatis tism m lear learnin ning g is said said to be successful when the child can generate innumerable grammatically correct

sentences and re;ects ungrammatical ones. 0. The behavi behaviour ourist ist view view holds holds that that children need formal teaching and guidance to learn in a correct way. 8. &t igno ignores res the creati creativit vity y of huma human n  beings.

0. The innati innatist st view view maintai maintains ns that that children do not require primary formal instruction. 8. &t view viewss langua language ge acqui acquisit sition ion as a creative process.

<. The behavio viourist th theory is is me mechanical. al.

=. The beha behavio viouri urist st theor theory y cannot cannot e2pla e2plain in how the child precedes in his9her  ;ourney of language acquisition. /. (angua (anguage ge acqui acquisit sition ion is is the the result result of of nurture.

<. The &n &nnati atist th theory ory is is no not mec mech hanical cal since it does consider the child as an inert recipient =. The inna innatis tistt theory theory gives gives some some rati rational onal e2planations about children>s language acquisition procedure. /. (angua (anguage ge acquis acquisiti ition on is the the resul resultt of nature.

"?. The behaviourist behaviouristss believe that human mind is a blank slate.

"?. The &nnatist &nnatist believes believes that human mind is no tubula rasa.

"". The behaviourist behaviouristss e2periment e2periment upon animals not human beings. "5. #ehaviouris #ehaviourism m is a theory of  behaviour not of knowledge

"". The innatist innatist e2perimen e2perimentt on human child not animals. "5. &nnatism &nnatism is a theory of knowledge knowledge not of behaviour 

"6. The behaviouris behaviouristt theory does not advocate the critical period of language learning.

"6. #ut the innatist innatist claim claim that (anguage acquisition only functions if it is stimulated at the correct time.

"7. #ehaviourism stresses on correction correction and considers it as an essential part in language acquisition. "0. The behaviourist behaviouristss fail to recognize the logical problem of language acquisition

"7. The innatist innatist view holds that correction correction is useless in language acquisition. "0. The &nnatist &nnatist recognizes recognizes which they call the poverty of the @timulus argument.

From the above comparative comparative study it is obvious that the theories differ from each other in a many of ways. However, it is hardly possible to take any of these two options directly. directly. Aather  it might be possible to progress in the direction of regarding the human being as a mixture of  genetically determined capacities and knowledge gained by experience. That means language acuisition reuires situational stimuli plus !"#:  ,  ,

$n conc conclu lusi sion on,, neit neithe herr acco accoun untt shou should ld be tota totall lly y dism dismis isse sed. d. They They shou should ld be seen seen as complementary rather than contradictory.

The 3nd

%sychological research has recently

"8. (anguage (anguage learning learning is a practice practice based.

"8. (anguage (anguage learning learning is a rule based.

"<. $ccording $ccording to behaviourism behaviourism knowledge knowledge e2its outside of individuals.

"<. $ccording $ccording to innatism innatism knowledge e2its inside individuals.