Language Acquisition: Understanding the Cognitive Theory

Language Acquisition
Language Acquisition
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Language Acquisition
Introduction
In trying to understand language acquisition it is better that we look at the words
language and acquisition separately. The word language can be regarded as the primary
method of human communication. It is important to also note that although there are some
other patterns of communication; language is quite unique since it's characterized by the
verbal and also written components (DeHouwer, 2011 p.57).The term acquisition, on the
other hand, refers to the process of developing and learning a particular skill or behaviour.
Language acquisition can, therefore, be regarded as the systematic processes by which
human beings acquire the capacity to both perceive and comprehend a particular language.
Language acquisition is quite complex and many times it is often pinned to the first language
acquisition rather than second language acquisition
Well, this particular write up is going to look at language acquisition in depth and consider
the various theories of language learning but particularly the cognitive theory of language
learning, what it entails and what is it that we actually learn from this particular theory.
Diverse theories of language acquisition
There are quite a number of language acquisition theories and each of these theories
brings with it a totally different perspective and thought of language learning, both first and
second language acquisition. Some of the diverse theories in language acquisition consist of
the behaviourists, innatist and the cognitive theories. All these theories depict a very different
understanding as far as language acquisition is concerned.
As stated above, the main focus of this particular write up is to prove a much deeper and
wider understanding of the cognitive theory and how it works, we are therefore just going to

Language Acquisition
highlight in these two theories, the behaviourist theory, and the innatist theory so that one
would be in a position to have an insight on what they mean.
Diverse theories with their relevant examples
The behaviourist theory-This theory reinstates that language is just like a behaviour and it
often learned just like any other behaviour either through positive or negative reinforcements.
Solid examples and normal happenings have been related to this theory. For instance, an
infant or any child for that matter would make a mimicking sound that he/she hears from the
people around him especially the adults. The child would copy the behaviour of the adult
around and try to behave just like them but in this case in form of a mimicking sound (The
Douglas Fir Group, 2016 p.29).
This theory has been regarded as a psychological theory and was originally founded and
developed by J.B Watson and it's more of native language learning. The main principle of
this particular theory has been pegged to the analysis of the coherent human behaviour and
the significant observable stimuli-response (McLaughlin, 2013,p.88).There are some very
crucial strategies of language learning under this theory and these are imitations, rewarding
and also reinforcements. It's basically a process of learning that teachers and also encourage
the learners to come up and construct phrases and sentences that they observe and see others
around them do and say.
Under this theory for example it has been clearly stated that it's often not possible and highly
unlikely to find that children learn at the same rate/speed. Each and every person has their
own speed and pace of learning and is usually greatly dependent on the conditions and
immediate environment that the child has been exposed to. This theory has proven to be