Global Journal of HUMAN-SOCIAL SCIENCE: G Linguistics & Education Volume 19 Issue 10 Version 1.0 Year 2019 Type: Double Blind Peer Reviewed International Research Journal Publisher: Global Journals Online ISSN: 2249-460x & Print ISSN: 0975-587X Behaviorism, Innatism, Cognitivism: Considering the Dominance to Provide Theoretical Underpinning of Language Acquisition Conjecture By Tahmina Sultana Dhaka International University Abstract- The language specialists have discerned that language is a species-specific and a biologically determined scheme for the human beings. After a child is born, it goes under pre-linguistic and linguistic stages of language acquisition. Although there are many different approaches to learning, three basic kinds of learning theory are prominent, like Behaviourism, Innatism, and Cognitivism. All these theories centered around ‘nature’ and ‘nurture’ theories or on ‘empiricism’ and ‘nativism’ concepts. According to empirical research usually knowledge comes through experience from the environment. Nativism holds that at least some knowledge is not acquired from the environment but is genetically transmitted and innate. The theoreticians never agree or disagree with any of these theories, whether environmentalist or nativist. The principle focus of this study is to investigate the dominance among three main doctrines by delving into the fundamental differences among them. The specification of these theories is also given prominence in this article. Finally, in the findings session, it has been tried to trace the dominance of one particular theory, among others. Keywords: acquisition, innatism, behaviorism, cognitivism, nativism, empiricism. GJHSS-G Classification: FOR Code: 200399 BehaviorismInnatismCognitivismConsideringtheDominancetoProvideTheoreticalUnderpinningofLanguageAcquisitionConjecture Strictly as per the compliance and regulations of: © 2019. Tahmina Sultana. This is a research/review paper, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution- Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/), permitting all non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Behaviorism, Innatism, Cognitivism: Considering the Dominance to Provide Theoretical Underpinning of Language Acquisition Conjecture Tahmina Sultana Abstract- The language specialists have discerned that system by which a child learns a language is built up language is a species-specific and a biologically determined one step at a time, beginning with the distinction 2019 scheme for the human beings. After a child is born, it goes between individual phonemes (Fry, Dennis 1977). under pre-linguistic and linguistic stages of language In this study, it has been tried to find out a ear acquisition. Although there are many different approaches to Y particular benchmark for fixing up the most acceptable learning, three basic kinds of learning theory are prominent, 73 like Behaviourism, Innatism, and Cognitivism. All these answer for language acquisition procedures. In the field theories centered around ‘nature’ and ‘nurture’ theories or on of language acquisition Behaviorism, Innatism, and ‘empiricism’ and ‘nativism’ concepts. According to empirical Cognitivism theories are granted as the three most research usually knowledge comes through experience from prominent schools of thought in providing a theoretical the environment. Nativism holds that at least some knowledge paradigm of language acquisition trail. Some critics are is not acquired from the environment but is genetically with the behavioral approach of language acquisition, transmitted and innate. The theoreticians never agree or some are with the innate or by the born capacity of a disagree with any of these theories, whether environmentalist human child to achieve its first language, and some or nativist. The principle focus of this study is to investigate the others are with the ability of cognition and perceptions. dominance among three main doctrines by delving into the fundamental differences among them. The specification of First of all, these three theories will be discussed as per these theories is also given prominence in this article. Finally, their traits with criticisms in the discussion session. in the findings session, it has been tried to trace the Some past works and findings will be focused on the dominance of one particular theory, among others. literature review part to establish the authenticity of this ) G Keywords: acquisition, innatism, behaviorism, study. And then, in the findings section, the dominant ( cognitivism, nativism, empiricism. theory will be highlighted in relation to the other Volume XIX Issue X Version I language acquisition theories. I. Introduction II. Literature Review anguage acquisition is the process by which humans acquire the capacity to perceive and From some ancient observations we perceive L comprehend language, as well as to produce and that mapping of word meaning is innate. Additionally, - use words and sentences to communicate. The history Sanskrit grammarians debated for over twelve centuries of language learning theories is a great pendulum whether humans' ability to recognize the meaning of cycled from Skinnerian environmentalism to Piagetian words was god-given or passed down by previous constructivism to Chomskian innatism. Linguists Noam generations and learned from already established Chomsky and Eric Lenneberg, for half a century, have conventions (Fry, Dennis 1977). In a more modern argued for the hypothesis that children have inborn context, empiricists, like Thomas Hobbes and John capabilities that make the language learning possible. Locke, argued that knowledge (and, for Locke, Evidence suggests that every individual has three language) emerge ultimately from abstracted sense recursive mechanisms that allow sentences to go impressions. These arguments mainly supported that indeterminately, like relativization, complementation, and language is acquired through sensory experience Global Journal of Human Social Science coordination (Matilal, Bimal Krishna, 1990). Furthermore, (Kendra A. Palmer, 2009). Dissatisfaction with there are actually two main guiding principles in the first- behaviorism’s strict focus on observable behavior led language acquisition, that is, speech perception always educational psychologists such as Jean Piaget and precedes speech production and the gradually evolving William Perry to demand an approach to learning theory that paid more attention to “inside the learner’s head.” They developed a cognitive access that focused on Author: Department of English, Dhaka International University, Banani, mental processes rather than observable behavior (Dr. Dhaka, Bangladesh. e-mail: [email protected] Barman Binoy, 2006). According to cognitive ©2019 Global Journals Behaviorism, Innatism, Cognitivism: Considering the Dominance to Provide Theoretical Underpinning of Language Acquisition Conjecture psychologists, ‘meaning’ plays an significant role in this idea to rats and pigeons (Staddon, J, 2017). Latent human learning. ‘Learning’ is a meaningful process of responses constitute a repertoire, from which operant “relating new events or items to already existing reinforcement can select. cognitive concepts.” (Brown, H.D.1987). i. Varieties All these above literature are focusing on There is no universally agreed-upon different patterns and techniques of learning a first classification, but some titles given to the various language after a baby born. Behaviourism is branches of behaviorism include: emphasizing performance and behavior in successful (i) Methodological behaviorism: Watson's behaviorism learning, whereas Innatism is supporting by-born and states that one can only observe the public events natural pre-conceptions of a child to gain the language (behaviors of an individual), and that therefore, one better than any other process. On the other hand, should ignore the private events (thoughts and Cognitivism is highlighting the importance of meaning, feelings). (Skinner, BF, 1976) (Zalta, Edward N, and understanding. They focus on cognitive 2006). development, cultural background, and personal history (ii) Radical behaviorism: B. F. Skinner's behaviorism 2019 to gain new knowledge rather than depending on theorizes that processes within the organism should passively absorbed behavioral repertoire. Each theory is be acknowledged, particularly the presence of ear logical and reasonable in their standpoint. That is why; Y private events (such as thoughts and feelings), and still bewilderment exists in the field of first language suggests that environmental variables also control 74 acquisition regarding the most acceptable hypothesis to these events just as they control observable meet up the controversy. In this study it has been tried behaviors. Willard Van Orman Quine used many of to pick up a satisfactory presumption among those radical behaviorism's ideas in his study of three above mentioned speculations based on relevant knowledge and language (Skinner, BF, 1976). logical analysis. (iii) Teleological behaviorism: Post-Skinnerian, purposive, close to microeconomics. It focuses on III. Discussion objective observation as opposed to cognitive a) Behaviourism processes. According to Behaviorism, humans produce (iv) Psychological behaviorism: As proposed by Arthur their behaviors in response to certain stimuli in the W. Staats, unlike the previous behaviorisms of environment, including other