Comparing Theories of Human Language Learning Case Study 2022

Running head: Comparing theories of human language learning
COMPARING THEORIES OF HUMAN LANGUAGE
LEARNING

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Comparing theories of human language learning
Language acquisition is one of the essential parts of literacy. There are various
theories that explain the process of language emergence in human beings in different ways.
All these theories are important to be learnt in order to teach learners, especially the learners
belonging to early childhood stage. So, this study has revolved around three such theories of
language learning that may be helpful for the teachers while coming up with teaching
approaches appropriate for the early childhood stage. For that reason, cognitive theory, socio-
cultural theory and affective theories have been discussed and compared in this study. The
purpose of comparing these theories is to analyse their importance respectively in the realm
of teaching practice. These three theories have been chosen because each one of them shows
a different aspect or factor of language learning. Moreover, all of them are significant for
language development in the learners of the early childhood stage.
According to the theories related to the Cognitivism, language development depends
on the cognitive development of the learners. According to the theory of Thorndike, three
aspects including readiness, effect and exercise are important for the learners in order to learn
language acquisition. Language emergence cannot be done unless the learners show readiness
towards learning language. On the other hand, continuous exercise helps the learners to apply
the language learning in various contexts. On the other hand, Piaget thought that human
language emergence comes from the home experiences of the learners (Flückiger, Diamond
& Jones, 2012). Positive and learning friendly experiences subconsciously prompt the
learning of basic language skills. However, according to this theory, language learning
emerges from the time of birth and the process of emergence stays until the reading stage of
the learners.
Unlike the above mentioned theory of language learning, the socio-cultural theories of
language learning focuses on the fact that social and cultural background of the learners play
a very significant role in their language learning. This implies that the language acquisition
gets better if the social and cultural environment boost the language learning of the learners
belonging from the early childhood age. According to the opinions of Barratt-Pugh, the social
and cultural environment motivates language learning through six different aspects. These
aspects include the facts that language or literacy practices are generally culture specific. For
example, the language emergence of the aboriginal Australian learners will not be the same
as the language emergence process of the native English speaking learners (Hill, Colbung &
Glover, 2011). This is because both the surrounding society and the culture instil different