Interactionist Theory of Language Acquisition
What is the Interactionist theory of language acquisition?
The Interactionist theory of language acquisition posits that children acquire language through direct interactions with native speakers or caretakers, who provide correct input, feedback, and opportunities for practice.
This theory suggests that language learning does not occur through innate abilities or stored linguistic data, but rather through a trial-and-error process in natural settings such as the home.
History of Interactionist Theory of Language Acquisition
The origins of the Interactionist theory of language acquisition can be traced back to Jean Piaget, who based his proposal on observations of his own children learning to speak.
Later, BF Skinner, a proponent of the Behaviorism approach in psychology, expanded on this theory. Throughout the years, numerous psychologists have contributed to the ongoing discussion about the extent to which infants can acquire language through observation alone, without the need for physical practice.
Examples of Interactionist Theory of Language Acquisition
The Interactionist theory of language acquisition states that individuals learn to speak by observing and interacting with others.
Real-life examples of this theory include an infant who hears words spoken often enough, and then eventually starts to imitate them when they begin speaking themselves.
The theory suggests that babies acquire language through imitation, or “paying attention” as it is referred to in literature. An example of this is a baby copying their father’s speaking style when he says “Oh no!” after spilling milk on himself.
Check related: Nativist Theory of Language Acquisition.
Criticisms and weaknesses of Interactionist theory of language acquisition.
- The Interactionist theory of language acquisition, which posits that children learn language and culture through observing and participating in interactions with others, has received criticism for its lack of attention to individual differences in learning.
- Additionally, the theory is not universally accepted, and does not account for children’s exposure to multiple languages before speaking.
- There is also a lack of research on adult second language acquisition without formal instruction. Furthermore, the theory is not able to explain why some people find it easier to learn a second language than others.
Check Related: Behaviorist Theory of Language Acquisition
