Compare and contrast the behaviourist theory of language acquisition and the nativist

theory of language acquisition.

Behaviourist theory Nativist theory

Individual have capacity for learning but no Nativism essentially says that we have an
specific capacity for language learning. innate predisposition to learn the language.

Learning a language, results from positive

reinforcement of desirable behaviour and non-
reinforcement of what is not wanted

Treats language learning as essentially Without a biological predisposition, it would

imitation and repetition guided by external be impossible to learn as quickly and
events. thoroughly as we do.

The stimuli and reinforcement provide

encouragement to children to make the effort
and to experiment.

Argue that everything we know we have Emphasised the interaction between the child
learned through interaction with the and the adult.
environment.

We learn through reinforcement

Behaviourists say that this is entirely learned. Ability to learn language is inborn.