How Do Children Learn a Language
Understanding how children acquire language is a fascinating journey that involves a complex interplay of innate abilities, environmental exposure and social interaction. From their very first gurgles and coos to forming complete sentences, children demonstrate an incredible capacity for linguistic development.
Programmed in Our Brains
One prominent theory, nativism, championed by Noam Chomsky, suggests that humans are born with an innate capacity for language acquisition, often referred to as a Language Acquisition Device (LAD). This theoretical construct proposes that children have a universal grammar programmed into their brains, allowing them to rapidly understand and produce grammatically correct sentences, even with limited exposure to language. This explains why children across diverse cultures and linguistic backgrounds tend to follow similar developmental stages in language acquisition.
Learning by Imitation
However, environmental factors play an equally crucial role. Behaviourist theories, like those put forth by B.F. Skinner, emphasise the importance of reinforcement and imitation. According to this perspective, children learn language by imitating the sounds and words they hear and their attempts are reinforced by parents and caregivers. For instance, a child who says “mama” might receive positive attention, encouraging them to repeat the sound. While imitation is undoubtedly a part of the process, it doesn’t fully account for children’s ability to create novel sentences they’ve never heard before.
Nature and Nurture
The interactionist perspective offers a more comprehensive view, integrating elements of both nature and nurture. This theory posits that language development is a result of the interaction between a child’s innate predispositions and their social and linguistic environment. Social interaction, particularly with primary caregivers, is seen as paramount. Through conversations, turn-taking and joint attention (where both the child and caregiver are focused on the same object or event), children learn the nuances of language, including vocabulary, syntax and pragmatics (the practical use of language in social contexts)
Parents and educators can significantly support a child’s language development. Engaging in frequent conversations, reading aloud, singing songs and providing a rich linguistic environment are all beneficial. Using “parentese” or “motherese”—a simplified, higher-pitched and exaggerated form of speech often used with infants—can also help children distinguish speech sounds and focus their attention. Encouraging children to express themselves, even if their grammar isn’t perfect, fosters a positive attitude towards communication.
Ultimately, language acquisition is a dynamic process unique to each child, yet universally underpinned by a remarkable cognitive ability to absorb and produce complex communication systems. Understanding these mechanisms helps us appreciate the intricate dance between biology and environment that shapes a child’s linguistic world.