Report on Language and Literacy Development Theories and Practices

This report provides an overview of language and literacy development, focusing on key theories such as behaviorist, interactionist, and nativist perspectives. It explores how these theories explain the process of language acquisition and literacy development from early childhood. The report discusses the core principles of each theory, including the roles of environment, social interaction, and innate abilities in language learning. The behaviorist theory emphasizes the role of environment and reinforcement, the interactionist theory highlights the importance of social interaction, and the nativist theory focuses on the biological basis of language. The report provides examples to illustrate how these theories apply in real-life situations. It concludes by emphasizing the importance of these theories for educators in promoting effective language and literacy development.

Understanding
Language
and
Literacy

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................3
REFRENCES...................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Language as well as literacy plays an essential role in a life of a human being, even if it
come from mouth of a baby. For a mother it is a very shining and special moment when she hear
mama for her baby for a first time. Same as this language and literacy help a person in
developing its career in proper manner. A child as well as young person learn many things form
its surrounding, elders, friends and situation (Derewianka & Jones, 2016). This report will
include various theory based on early stages of language acquisition and development. At last it
will include example which will explain theory appropriate according to the situation related to
language as well as literacy of a person.
MAIN BODY
Adopt language and literacy is essential for an individual because by it they able to
understand other and develop appropriate career. This is will get start after the birth of child or a
baby. So it is very precious as well as shining moment when a baby say any word for first time.
Along with this, process of learning of a person get start when he/ she get born (Ortega, 2014).
An educator may adopt various theories and method in order to develop effective literacy as well
as language. Some major of them are mentioned in this report. Such as nativist theory,
behaviourist theory and interactionist theory which used at the early stage of developing and
acquiring language. These theories used by a educator in order to develop learning of language
as well as literacy for a child so that they interact to other and understand surroundings in
effective and appropriate manner.
First, behaviourist theory it is developed by John B. Watson in year 1913. it explain about
learning language is based on some major factors such as environment as well as personal
experiences. That means nurture holds a essential portion in learning language process in stead
of nature. A child is concern as a empty vessel which can be filled with any type of knowledge as
well as information by its family members, educators and friends who are mainly with child for
caring purpose. According to this theory learning process of a child is continuous which help
them in learning new things on regular basis. Along with this a person learn new things
according to situation. For example- a teacher assign an assignment to to students but students
refuse to take it then teacher shows them some positive reinforcement like extra attendance,
picnic, chocolates and so on. This will attract students then sudden change in behaviour will

occur and students get ready to conduct work (Hamayan & et.al., 2013). By this it can be
analysis that if a person get restrict to one thing and other want to it then they must offer
something which will attract them and encourage to conduct work in proper manner. Along with
this educator can also use it in negative manner such as they can dimmish something special and
ask to accomplish work or task instead of it.
Second is interactionist theory, interaction refers to a process in which an individual
interact to other through face to face. It is mainly consist of action, reaction and mutual
adaptation among two or more persons. Along with this it will also include interaction with
animals such as mating. In respect of respective report interactionist theory refers to social
interaction among children and educator in order to develop learning of language as well as
literacy. Children are born with a predisposition through which they communicate and lean
language simply as well as easily. Here child major motivation is to interact or communicate
with other or environment. Moreover acquisition of language is closely based or focus to a kid's
development on cognitive basis (Bialystok, 2013). In this situation educator or care giver must
leach easy language to child so that they can adapt it effectively in less time as well as remember
it for a long duration in proper manner. For example- in case of drunk person, they didn't interact
or communicate with others in proper manner due to which others also face difficulties in
interacting them for anything at a basic level also. So it is essential for a educator to develop
appropriate learning and literacy in their kids that they must interact with other in proper manner
so that they as well as other understand each others appropriately.
Third is nativist theory, it is developed by Noam Chomsky in year 1960 and according to
this theory it is based on biologically theory that is based on an argument i.e. humans are already
pre-programmed due to which a baby have ability to develop language. A baby or a child start
learning at a initial stage as well as they also start learning through observing other or their
surrounding. Along with this developer of this theory also introduce an idea of Language
Acquisition Device (LAD). That is based on several factors such as a child or a person have
ability to differentiate sound of speech and other sound from an environment, ability to engage
themselves and develop system to learn thing in appropriate manner (Carter, 2012). Moreover
due to this inbuilt program a children learn many things from observing as well as leasing others
from their surrounding as well as environment. Along with this this LAD also state that an infant
are born along with knowledge of Universal Grammatical rules which make them ability to

accept any language and feature at its infant stage. This is possible because they get it from its
background of its family . For example- at first stage child only learn how to speak and write
sentence and when they start going to school they learn how to frame sentence and change it
according to requirement. Along with this as a child started developing they able to lean new
things which help them in developing as well as preparing their career in proper manner (Bhatia,
2014).
All these theories are essential for an individual or educator to adopt these theories so that
they can develop language as well as literacy effectively and efficiently. This will also help child
as well as educator to make learn new things that help them in developing career. Behaviourist
theory as well as interactionist theory are based on learning which is conduct at the age of infant
through observing and experienced. Whereas nativist theory is based on grammatical skills of a
child in small age.
CONCLUSION
Form above discussed point it can be conclude as well as analysis that literacy and
language is essential for an individual to develop their career in proper manner. All the above
mentioned theories are essential and describe about learning process of a human being which is
start from its birth. Behaviourist as well as interactionist theory have some similarities but also
have major differences. Both theories are based on effectiveness of care which is given to
children's process of learning language. Whereas behaviourist theory describe about that child is
a empty vessel so that language and literacy enhance them and develop a appropriate person.
Along with this it is essential for educators to carefully understand these theories that help them
in guiding children in order to develop language as well as literacy.

REFRENCES
Books and journals
Derewianka, B., & Jones, P. (2016). Teaching language in context. Oxford University Press. 198
Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016.
Ortega, L. (2014). Understanding second language acquisition. Routledge.
Hamayan, E. V., & et.al. (2013). Special education considerations for English language
learners: Delivering a continuum of services. Philadelphia: Caslon Publishing.
Bialystok, E. (2013). 25 The Impact of Bilingualism on Language and Literacy
Development. The handbook of bilingualism and multilingualism, 624.
Carter, R. (2012). Investigating English discourse: language, literacy, literature. Routledge.
Bhatia, V. K. (2014). Analysing genre: Language use in professional settings. Routledge.