Since long, language acquisition has been a matter of concern. There are some basic theories advanced to describe how language is acquired, learnt and taught. Some of these are the Behaviourist theory, The Innatist/Nativist theory, Cognitive theory, and Interactionism. Of these, Behaviourism and Innatism are mainly applicable to First Language Acquisition. As I am going to compare and contrast between these two theories, first let us have an insight into both the theories to mark the similarities and differences between Behaviourism and Innatism of language acquisition.
Behaviourism
B.F. Skinner is regarded as the father of Operant Conditioning, though it is based on Thorndike’s law of effect. According to this principle, behaviour that is followed by pleasant consequence is likely to be repeated and that followed by unpleasant consequence is less likely to be repeated. Now the question is, why was Operant conditioning carried out? Skinner did so to explain his theory of behaviourism regarding a child’s first language acquisition. Behaviourism contends that children learn language through imitation, repetition and the reinforcement of successful linguistics attempt. Skinner described learning as a behaviour produced by learners’ response to stimuli, which can be reinforced with positive and negative feedback to environmental stimuli.
Importance of feedback in behaviourism
Both positive and negative reinforcement increase the probability that the antecedent behaviour will happen again. However, punishment decreases the likelihood that the antecedent will happen again. Punishment is used to eliminate a sort of learning and to reduce incorrect actions, followed by clarifying desired ones. For example: If a child is caught by school authority of bunking school, he is going to be suspended, and punished for which it is less likely that he will repeat the action again.
Reinforcement helps a child to longer retention of what is learned. Skinner believes that both positive and negative reinforcement can shape behaviour and this in turn affects their language acquisition capability. Positive reinforcement strengthens a behaviour by providing a consequence an individual finds rewarding. For instance: If a child is offered chocolate for regularly attending tuition classes, as this action is rewarding, he is less likely to miss his tuition. Negative reinforcement is the opposite. Again, for example, here instead of providing something, if children are to provide a penalty of $5 for not attending school, they will be less likely to miss school. Thus, strengthening the behaviour of attending school regularly.
Behaviourism is primarily concerned with observable behaviour as opposed to internal thinking and emotions. It deals with environmental stimuli and doesn’t encourage minds creativity.
Innatism
Noam Chomsky (2002) was the first to state the Innatist theory in First Language Acquisition. According to Innatism, children are born with the ability to acquire language (innate). It meant that infants were prewired to analyse linguistics. He says that all languages contain similar structures and rules, and without much effort children learn to speak structurally as our brain is wired that way. According to Chomsky, we can acquire language because we are genetically encoded with a universal grammar— a basic understanding of how communication is structured. For example, like how human beings are born with the innate ability to walk. Apart from what they see in their surroundings, walking is encoded in human beings, which is an innate ability.
Language Acquisition Device (LAD)
To explain this innate ability, Chomsky said that children are born with a language acquisition device (LAD). This LAD is made up of a set of general principles called universal grammar (UG). These general principles can be applied to all the languages in the world.
The LAD concept is an instinctive mental capacity which enables an infant to acquire and produce language. The basic postulate of UG is that, a certain set of structural rules are innate to humans, independent of sensory experience. It is the ability to learn grammar which is built into the human brain from birth regardless of any language. Due to this ability, a baby understands and acquires language really quick and easily; though language is a complex thing. He argued that every human child possesses innate knowledge of language structure to detect and reproduce language. It is due to LAD that young children learn and apply grammatical rules and vocabulary as they are exposed to them. Hence, not requiring initial formal teaching.
Influence of Universal Grammar (UG)
Chomsky also argues that there is an enormous gap between the linguistic stimuli to which children are exposed, and the rich linguistic knowledge they actually attain. The knowledge of universal grammar serves to bridge that gap.
UG does not claim that all human languages have the same grammar. Rather UG provides a set of basic grammatical elements or fixed elements that are common to all languages. It explains how children acquire their language or how they construct good sentences of their language in a relatively short period of time.
Contradiction
The Innatist theory of Noam Chomsky came as a reaction against the Behaviourist theory, which says, language is acquired from environmental stimuli. If that would be the case, then children would never speak out things which they have Now that we have analysed both the theories. I will mark out the differences between the two in the form of a table.
| Behaviourism | Innatism |
| According to Behaviourism, language is learned in the way other habits are learned | According to Innatism, language develops in the same way as other biological functions |
| Language Acquisition is a stimulus response process | Language Acquisition is a congenital process |
| Children learn language through imitation | Children learn language by application |
| Language learning is practice-based | Language learning is rule-based |
| Language acquisition is the result of nurture | Language acquisition is the result of nature |
| Emphasis on observable behaviour | Emphasis on internal thought processes |
| Knowledge exists outside of individuals | Knowledge exists inside individuals |
| Learning is determined by the environment | Learning is determined by the individual |
| Children requires formal guidance to learn in a correct way | Learning requires no initial formal teaching |
| Considers the child as a passive recipient | Considers the child as an active participant |
| Language learning is a mechanical process | Language learning is a creative process |
| Is a theory of behaviour, not of knowledge | Is a theory of knowledge, not of behaviour |
Similarities between Behaviourism and Innatism
Regardless of the differences, there are some similarities as well between Behaviourism and Innatism of language acquisition:
- Both Innatism and Behaviourism are theories to investigate First Language Acquisition.
- Both of these theories help to describe some aspects of first language acquisition.
- Neither Behaviourism nor Innatism is able to adequately encompass the complexity of language acquisition.
- Both the theories are not wholly independent to be accepted solely. One is either dependent or corrected by other.
As language is a complex thing to examine, linguist keep on working to define and redefine of how actually language is acquired.