SAINT MICHAEL COLLEGE HINDANG, LEYTE INC.

A. BonifacioSt. Pob. II, Hindang, Leyte

MAJOR 4A (BSED 2 Batch 1)

PRINCIPLES AND THEORIES OF LANGUAGE ACQUISITION AND LEARNING

Nativist Approaches

I. Introduction
What is the nativist approach in terms of Child Language Acquisition?Nativist theories of
language acquisition hold that children learn through their natural ability to organize the laws of
language, but cannot fully utilize this talent without the presence of other humans. This does not
mean, however, that the child requires formal teaching of any sort. Chomskyalso stating that
children's brains contain a Language Acquisition Device which holds the grammatical
universals.This theory came about as children have been observed to pick up grammar and
syntax without any formal teaching (in spoken language). They seem to learn these fundamentals
of their native language(s) purely from the input around them.
Chomsky believes that the LAD helps children decipher the grammatical structures of their
native language(s), subconsciously mapping new lexical items to their corresponding word class
and syntactic position. The LAD could in theory mean that children while possessing this part of
the brain could easily pick up the grammatical structures of any input language as they already
have the building blocks in their mind.This theory is contested by a lot of linguists due to the fact
an LAD has never been found on brain imaging or in other studies of children's brains. There are
many other approaches which contradict Chomsky's theory but the nativist approach is still
widely held in high regard by many language development experts.
The nativist approach in no way suggests that children are born with a lexicon, the majority if not
all linguists agree that lexical items are learned from input and social environment. The different
approaches to language development mainly focus on how children learn grammar and syntax.

II. Content
Chomsky claims that children are born with a hard-wired language acquisition device
(LAD) in their brains. They are born with the major principles of language in place, but with
many parameters to set (such as whether sentences in the language(s) they are to acquire must
have explicit subjects). According to nativist theory, when the young child is exposed to a
language, their LAD makes it possible for them to set the parameters and deduce the
grammatical principles, because the principles are innate.

Mark Baker's work, The Atoms of Language (2004) presents arguments that there are
not only certain "parameters" (as Chomsky called them) that are innate switches in our LAD, but
we are very close to the point where these parameters could be put together in a "periodic table
of languages" as determined by their parameter features. Baker's work is very controversial,
however, because he has argued (1996: 496-515) that principles and parameters do not have
biological or sociological origins, but instead were created by God (i.e. creationism). In contrast
to Baker's theological creationism, Chomsky, although not a creationist has been described as a
magical creationist or a crypto-creationist (e.g. MacFarquhar, 2003: 71) by people who find his
scepticism of natural selection troubling. Chomsky does however make it clear in a reply to John
Maynard Smith that he does believe that the innate capacity for language can be explained by
biology when he states that language "... can be studied in the manner of other biological
systems." [1].

In addition, there are significant studies in biogenetics that strongly suggest that the genetic
factors that combine to build the brain contain redundant systems for recognizing patterns of
both sight and sound.

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One idea central to the Chomskian view is the idea of Universal Grammar, which posits that all
languages have the same basic underlying structure, and that specific languages have rules that
transform these underlying structures into the specific patterns found in given languages. This is
important in 20th Century philosophy because it directly counters Wittgenstein's key assertion
that grammar is just surface and arbitrary, like the rules of a chess game.

Another Chomsky argument is that without a propensity for language, human infants would be
unable to learn such complete speech patterns in a natural human environment where complete
sentences are the exception. This is sometimes mischaracterised as the poverty of the stimulus
argument. Psychologists such as Catherine Snow at Harvard, who study parent-child interaction,
point out that children do not have to deduce the principles of language from impoverished and
ungrammatical scraps of talk. Many studies of child directed speech or CDS have shown that
speech to young children is slow, clear, grammatical, and very repetitious, rather like traditional
language lessons.

III. Implication to Classroom:

Nativist Theory of Second Language Acquisition
Strategies to implement the nativist theory in the classroom:
First is we need to "Focus on specific errors that interfere with communication" (Azira,
2010) "There are certain types of errors that may hinder communication. These are considered
global errors. These errors are usually characterized by incorrect word order pattern," so
intensive instruction on word order is necessary to help attain the new language. (Azira, 2010)
According to "Teaching English Language Learners," language should be "integrated throughout
the day, taught alongside the regular curriculum.""Ells language needs are complex, and while
they benefit from ELD instruction, they also need instruction in the use of English in the content
areas (math, history, science, etc.)" Naom Chomsky theorized that children have the innate
ability to learn language without specific instruction. Second is Errors that do not hinder
communication are called local errors. Verb tense is generally used incorrectly in this case, so
instruction on the correct usage of nouns and verbs is necessary. Third is to Create a safe
environment in which students feel comfortable with expressing themselves. Teachers should not
overcorrect because it can cause heightened learner anxiety. Fourth is Use pictures, objects, and
drawings to associate with vocabulary words to enhance meaning and comprehension.
Fifth is to Ask questions that require more than a yes or no answer. This will give English
language learners more opportunities to practice speaking English. Since this theory suggests
that language is already in place, then it is logical to say that language only needs to be
enhanced.Last is Use pictures, objects, and drawings to associate with vocabulary words to
enhance meaning and comprehension.

IV. Reflection
As an individual, language is very important in our lives, without some type of language,
we may not be able to communicate. Language is something that we use for our daily life. If
what we use to get what we want, fight for what we believe, to resolve a conflict; language is
essential.
The way we learn a language is the way we learned it may affect the way we interact
with people in the world. Language for us is a way of communicating with others either verbally
or by using signals that has meaning to us (Schacter, Gilbert, Wegner & Nock, 2015).
I believe that child's ability to understand and recognize negatives and plurals is the
innate ability due to LAD creativity. “telegraphic speech suggests some underlying mechanisms
that are probably innate.” (Wood, 1997) As for learning second language, the exposure to
that another language helps enhance the increase the speed of learning it. Like students, with
English as the chosen second language, exposure to it by speaking or simply objects and signals
in the classroom will help enhance the probability of learning the language because we already
have a device in us that is built for language learning and acquisition, we just need enough
exposure to trigger the LAD within us.
So in Nativist Approaches I found out that a child learned to separate, eliminate and
form coherent sentence or phrase for better communication.

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V. Members

Dalmacio, Lennie
Tamsi, Shehane Glea
Yap, Chemlei
Mequiota, Geneva Mae

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