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Language Acquisition

Language I & II

Useful for: CTET, KVS, NVS, OTET, OSSTET, EMRS, CTSA / STSS, Junior Teacher

and 5 more exams

OAVS, OSSC Teacher Readiness, Sainik Schools, Special OTET, SSB School Teachers

Overview

Children acquire language naturally through exposure and interaction; theories differ on the roles of imitation, innate ability and social context.

Key points

Skinner saw language as learnt through imitation and reinforcement.
Chomsky proposed an innate Language Acquisition Device and universal grammar.
Krashen distinguished subconscious acquisition from conscious learning; comprehensible input (i + 1) drives acquisition.
Lenneberg’s critical period hypothesis (1967) suggests an optimal early period for language.
Stages: babbling, one-word (holophrastic), two-word (telegraphic), then fuller sentences.
Social interaction supports language development (Vygotsky).

Explanation

Krashen’s affective filter: anxiety blocks acquisition.
Errors are normal signs of developing grammar.
Rich, meaningful input matters more than drills.
Home language supports second-language learning.
Storytelling and conversation build vocabulary.

Step by step

Identify the concept, thinker or policy being tested.
Recall the exact definition, stage or provision.
Prefer inclusive, child-centred and evidence-based choices; reject punitive or labelling ones.

Examples

A child says "Mummy go" → telegraphic speech.
A child says "goed" instead of "went" → over-generalisation showing rule learning.
An anxious student speaks less in class → high affective filter.

Traps and advanced points

Trap: Attributing LAD to Skinner.
Trap: Treating errors as failures.
Trap: Ignoring anxiety.

Quick revision

Skinner, Chomsky, Krashen.
i + 1; affective filter.
Critical period (Lenneberg 1967).

Practice MCQs

The Language Acquisition Device was proposed by —
1. Vygotsky
2. Skinner
3. Chomsky
4. Piaget
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Answer: (c) Chomsky. Chomsky’s nativist theory.
Skinner explained language learning through —
1. social construction only
2. insight
3. imitation and reinforcement
4. innate grammar
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Answer: (c) imitation and reinforcement. Behaviourist view.
Krashen distinguished acquisition from —
1. learning
2. teaching
3. testing
4. reading
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Answer: (a) learning. Subconscious acquisition vs conscious learning.
Comprehensible input i + 1 means input —
1. far above level
2. slightly above the learner’s level
3. below level
4. without context
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Answer: (b) slightly above the learner’s level. Krashen’s input hypothesis.
The critical period hypothesis (1967) was proposed by —
1. Bruner
2. Bandura
3. Erikson
4. Lenneberg
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Answer: (d) Lenneberg. Lenneberg suggested an optimal early period.
"Mummy go" is an example of —
1. holophrastic speech
2. adult grammar
3. babbling
4. telegraphic speech
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Answer: (d) telegraphic speech. Two-word stage.
A child saying "goed" instead of "went" shows —
1. imitation
2. a hearing problem
3. no learning
4. over-generalisation of a rule
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Answer: (d) over-generalisation of a rule. The child applies the past-tense rule widely.
Anxiety blocking language acquisition is Krashen’s —
1. affective filter
2. monitor
3. input
4. natural order
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Answer: (a) affective filter. High anxiety raises the filter.
Errors in children’s speech are —
1. signs of developing grammar
2. always failures
3. signs of low intelligence
4. to be punished
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Answer: (a) signs of developing grammar. Errors show rule learning.
Universal grammar is associated with —
1. Pavlov
2. Chomsky
3. Skinner
4. Thorndike
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Answer: (b) Chomsky. Innate principles common to languages.