Name: Lei T.

Nate BEED BT-1-1

Teacher: Sir. Benjie Manila
Subject: Content and Pedagogy for the Mother Tongue

Language Learning Theories

Theories Proponent About it References

(4) (year)
Plato’s Plato (400 Plato believed that Breeden, A. (2022,January 14). The Search for
a Unified Theory of Language Learning. FluentU
Problem B.C.) knowledge was innate. This Language Learning.
was his answer to what has https://www.fluentu.com/blog/theory-of-
language-learning/
become known as Plato’s
Problem, or as Bertrand
Russell summarizes it: “How
comes it that human beings,
whose contacts with the
world are brief and personal
and limited, are
nevertheless able to know
as much as they do know?”
Being born with this
knowledge from the get-go
would naturally solve this
little quandary and
consequently he viewed
language as innate.
Cartesian René Language acquisition was a Breeden, A. (2022,January 14). The Search for
a Unified Theory of Language Learning. FluentU
Linguistics Descartes simple and easy process, Language Learning.
th https://www.fluentu.com/blog/theory-of-
(17 barely worthy of his language-learning/
century) attention. He believed in the
innateness of language
 because he thought it
reflected the general
rationality of human beings.
This “Cartesian” movement,
according to Chomsky,
noted the creativity involved
in everyday language and
presented the idea that
there were universal
principles behind every
language.
Breeden, A. (2022,January 14). The Search for
Locke's John or the blank slate. This is a Unified Theory of Language Learning. FluentU
Tabula Locke the idea that all knowledge Language Learning.
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/theory-of-
Rasa (1690) comes from outside language-learning/
ourselves through sensory
experience rather than
through innate knowledge
that we have at birth. This
naturally carried over to
language theory with Locke
rejecting the idea that
there was an innate logic
behind language.
Breeden, A. (2022,January 14). The Search for
Chomsky Noam The theory that Chomsky a Unified Theory of Language Learning. FluentU
Universal Chomsky proposed would be called Language Learning.
Grammar (1950’s) Universal Grammar and it https://www.fluentu.com/blog/theory-of-
language-learning/
would assert nearly the
exact opposite of what
Skinner had offered in his
theory. Where Skinner saw
all learning coming from
external stimuli, Chomsky
saw an innate device for
language acquisition. What
 Skinner understood to be
conditioning according to
particular events Chomsky,
understood to be the result
of the universal elements
that structure all languages.
Note: The four theories I have searched is came from similar website. The
references will be found the same in all theories; otherwise required different
sources will done upon notice.

Language Acquisition Theories

Theories (4) Proponent About it References

(year)
Theories of Language Acquisition. (n.d.).
Behaviorist BF Skinner Also called StudySmarter US.
Theory (1957) imitation theory. https://www.studysmarter.us/explanations/english/lan
guage-acquisition/theories-of-language-acquisition/
Children have no
internal mechanism
or ability to develop
language by
themselves in fact,
they learn
language first
through imitating
their parents and
then modifying their
use of language
due to operant
conditioning.
 Theories of Language Acquisition. (n.d.).
Nativist Noam Proposes that StudySmarter US.
Theory Chomsky children are born https://www.studysmarter.us/explanations/english/lan
guage-acquisition/theories-of-language-acquisition/
(1957) with an instinct or
drive for language
learning which he
calls the language
acquisition device.
He argued that
even if a child is
not educated in
their country’s
language, they will
still devise a
system of verbal
communication.
Theories of Language Acquisition. (n.d.).
Cognitive Jean The primary drives StudySmarter US.
Theory Piaget behind our actions https://www.studysmarter.us/explanations/english/lan
guage-acquisition/theories-of-language-acquisition/
(1923) are our thoughts
and internal
processes. Jean
assumes that
children are born
with relatively little
cognitive ability, but
their minds develop
and build new
schemas as they
age and
experience the
world around them.
Theories of Language Acquisition. (n.d.).
Interactionist Jerome Believe that StudySmarter US.
Approach Bruner children are born https://www.studysmarter.us/explanations/english/lan
guage-acquisition/theories-of-language-acquisition/
(1961) with an ability to
develop language
 but they require
regular interaction
with their teacher
or caregiver to
understand it to a
level of full fluency.
This idea is known
as the Language
Acquisition Support
System.
Note: The four theories I have searched is came from similar website. The
references will be found the same in all theories; otherwise required different
sources will done upon notice.