In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Course

Principle and theories of language Acquisition

Submitted by: Waffah S. Walid

BSED – English 2nd Year

Submitted to: Prof. Esmeralda Metillo

November 2022
The learning theory of language acquisition suggests that children learn a language
much like they learn to tie their shoes or how to count; through repetition and
reinforcement. When babies first learn to babble, parents and guardians smile, coo, and hug
them for this behavior.

What is language?

Language is the primary method of human communication, but there are also other ways to
communicate without the use of language. When asked to define language we tend to think of
a verbal and written system in which certain sounds and symbols come together in a specific
way to convey meaning. Language in its most complex form is unique to humans, although
some animals have been found to have basic communication patterns. Languages often have
verbal and written components, but how we classify something like American Sign
Language? Animals manage to communicate — do they have language? How did language
evolve? How do we learn enough language ourselves to begin to answer this question?

Why is it so surprising that we can learn language?

If you’ve ever tried to learn a new language, you know it’s not easy. There are new rules of
grammar which come with many exceptions, new sounds that are hard to make, endless lists
of vocabulary to commit to memory and so on. And yet, you managed to learn the basics of
your very first language around the time you were two years old; no textbooks in sight.

Not only are children able to absorb the complicated rules of grammar without formal
teaching, they do so from a limited vocabulary. Regardless of how much a child is spoken to,
they will not hear every possible word and sentence by the time they begin speaking. Yet
when they do start to talk, children begin to follow grammatical rules and apply them to form
new, innovative phrases. This level of information processing is incredibly impressive in
anyone, much less someone still figuring out counting and skipping!

What do we know?

As is often the case in psychology and sociology, it’s hard to get what we normally think of
as data about language acquisition. It’s not a chemical we can test for or a distance we can
measure (imagine asking a 2 year old how many words they know — not a particularly useful
or productive task, right? ). However, there are some facts that are generally agreed upon by
the scientific community. The first couple years of life are the critical period for language
learning, which becomes a much harder task as people age. Children usually say their first
words around 10-18 months of age, and graduate to phrases sometime before they are two
years old. In fact, studies have shown that 18 month olds can tell the difference between
correctly formed verb pairs (is jumping) and incorrect ones (will jumping). Somewhere
between four and seven years old children begin to be able to tell stories that more or less
make sense.

We also know that learning a language is not like walking up the steady increase of a ramp,
but more like walking the hills and valleys of a country road. Usually when we learn a new
skill, the more we practice the better we get. However, this isn’t always true in the early
stages of language development. When children are first learning to talk, the verbs they use
are usually the most common such as go, eat, talk, give, run, etc. These are often irregular in
the past tense. Although at first they use the past tense properly (“I ran”, “he went”, etc), kids
typically regress for a while. They often over-follow rules, saying phrases like “I runned”
instead of “I ran”. As their vocabularies expand rapidly (known as vocabulary burst), some
researchers believe children notice patterns in language, and that leads to over-correction as
described in the example above. Eventually, children begin to understand where the rules
apply and where they don’t, and then properly form the past tense once more. This is known
as a U shaped learning curve, because the language mastery started high, dropped for a
period of time, and then improved again. Thus, there appears to be a mimicking (copying)
phase first and then a time of broad generalizations before children settle into language.

What are the major theories about language acquisition?

The most well-known theory about language acquisition is the nativist theory, which
suggests that we are born with something in our genes that allows us to learn language. It
proposes that there is a theoretical language acquisition device (LAD) somewhere in our
brains that is responsible for learning a language the same way the hypothalamus is
responsible for maintaining your body temperature. If language was partly biological, it could
explain why humans seem to have far more complicated communication patterns than any
other species .

Another way to look at language learning is to treat it like learning a new skill. The learning
theory of language acquisition suggests that children learn a language much like they learn to
tie their shoes or how to count; through repetition and reinforcement. When babies first learn
to babble, parents and guardians smile, coo, and hug them for this behavior. As they grow
older, children are praised for speaking properly and corrected when they misspeak. Thus,
language arises from stimuli and stimuli response. While this is logical, it fails to explain how
new words or phrases come about, since children are only parroting the things they have
heard from others.

The interactionist approach (sociocultural theory) combines ideas from sociology and

biology to explain how language is developed. According to this theory, children learn
language out of a desire to communicate with the world around them. Language emerges
from, and is dependent upon, social interaction. The Interactionist approach claims that if our
language ability develops out of a desire to communicate, then language is dependent upon
whom we want to communicate with. This means the environment you grow up in will
heavily affect how well and how quickly you learn to talk. For example, infants being raised
by only their mother are more likely to learn the word “mama”, and less likely to develop
“dada”. Among the first words we learn are ways to demand attention or food. If you’ve ever
tried to learn a new language, you may recognize this theory’s influence. Language classes
often teach commonly used vocabulary and phrases first, and then focus on building
conversations rather than simple rote memorization. Even when we expand our vocabularies
in our native language, we remember the words we use the most.

It’s important to keep in mind that theories of language acquisition are just ideas created by
researchers to explain their observations. How accurate these theories are to the real world is
debatable. Language acquisition is a complicated process influenced by the genetics of an
individual as well as the environment they live in.
An understanding of the language acquisition process and levels will help teachers
tailor instruction to meet the needs of a diverse group of learners. Students will
benefit from everything teachers do to support the development of their language
skills while teaching them grade level content.

All written and verbal interactions between team members are part
of team communication. Improving communication in the workplace
can increase efficiency and satisfaction. If you want to inspire team
members to collaborate, it can be beneficial to review inspiring
quotes for boosting teamwork in the workplace. In this article, we
explore why team communication is important and share 56 quotes
for inspiring team communication.

Why is team communication important?

Team communication is important because it can improve your
products, increase efficiency and reduce errors. Team
communication includes all written and verbal interaction between
staff members, and improving it can encourage everyone to
contribute to ideas and increase productivity and collaboration. You
can improve team communication by encouraging honesty,
providing feedback, using team-building exercises and focusing on
body language. You can also show you focus on team
communication by including team communication quotes in
presentations or featuring them in your workplace.

Learning English is important, but firstly, why is it a good

idea to learn any new language?
Learning a new language can be an enjoyable experience at any age. People learn
new languages for many different reasons, such as travel or work, and the benefits
can be incredibly worthwhile, whatever the reason.

Studying a foreign language can increase cultural knowledge and can help you feel
more confident when travelling.  It’s also a fact that learning a second language
improves brain functionality.  Studies show that people who speak more than one
language have improved memory, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills,
enhanced concentration, ability to multitask and better listening skills. 

Sounds great, right? So, now you know that it’s a good idea to learn a language, why
is it important to learn English?

1. English is a global language

English is spoken at a useful level by some 1.75 billion people worldwide – that’s one
in every four! Being able to speak English is not just about being able to
communicate with native English speakers – if you want to speak to someone from
another country then the chances are that you will both be speaking English to do
this!

2. Studying English can help you get a job

English is the language of science, aviation, computers, diplomacy, and tourism.
Knowing English increases your chances of getting a good job in a multinational
company within your home country or of finding work abroad.

3. With English, you can study all over the world

Since English is spoken in so many different countries there are lots of schools and
universities around the world that offer programmes in English. If you have a good
level of academic English, there are lots of opportunities for you to find an
appropriate school and course to suit your needs. In addition, many of the world’s
prestigious universities are situated in English-speaking countries such as the United
Kingdom, United States and Australia. To earn a position at one of these prestigious
universities it is paramount to be able to read, write, speak and listen in English.

4. English is the language of the media industry

If you speak English, you won’t need to rely on translations and subtitles anymore to
enjoy your favourite books, songs, films and TV shows!

5. It is the language of the Internet

English is also a particularly important language online with the highest percentage
of content on the internet written in English. As well as this, some of the world’s
largest tech companies are based in English speaking countries.

6. It will help you to understand other languages

Generally speaking, English is one of the easiest languages to learn with its simple
alphabet. And once English is mastered you will have developed abilities and
practices that you did not have before. These skills will transfer to any other
language that you learn.

7. Travelling is a lot easier with a good knowledge of English

Even if you are in a country where English is not the official language, chances are
that English will still be used as a tool for communication!
8. You can learn more than just the language!
Good knowledge of English will allow you to access films, music and literature from
hundreds of countries around the globe. Not to mention the fact that numerous
books from across the world are translated into English. Therefore, by understanding
English, you are unlocking the door to a whole world of new information and
knowledge!

English language plays an essential role in our lives as it helps in communication. It is

the main language for studying any subject all over the world. English is important
for students as it broadens their minds, develops emotional skills, improve the quality
of life by providing job opportunities.

Moreover, the use of English as an International language is growing with time

because it is the only medium for communication in many countries. English is also
used widely in the literature and media section to publish books, most of the writers
write in the English language due to the vast majority of readers know only the
English language and they can describe their ideas best in the English language.

As we are aware that English language skills depend upon four core skills. These skills
are essential for learning the English language that is:

 Listening skills: It improves the imagination and vocabulary of a learner. While listening
we used to visualize the scene and memorize in our memory.

 Speaking skills: When a learner speaks, he gets to know his mistakes and he can
improve it further.

 Reading skills: Reading a book or a passage helps in improving the vocabulary and

concentration of a learner.

 Writing skills: When we write we get to know, what we are writing and do we know the
spellings of all words.

If a student master these four skills then his English will automatically improve and
gain confidence in presenting his skills.
Why Learning English language is important?

 Perfect communication – It is important to speak effectively. People get impressed by

those who have good communication skills.

 Gain Confidence – If you own good communication skills then your confidence will
automatically be high.
  Achieve your goal early – Effective English language skills help you meet your career
goals quickly.

 Effective personality – When we speak effectively and with confidence, anyone can get
attracted.

 Part of the Global community – English language is a part of the global world. So, if
one knows good English then one can interact with others.

 Multiple Career Prospects – A person possessing effective communication skills have
more career opportunities than others.

English is not our native language, so why many students feel hard to learn English
skills effectively. But with regular practice and adopting the various techniques given
above will help you in learning English skills easily. Not only this, one will feel more
confident when one can understand the English language and communicate with
others without feeling hesitant.

Various language lab software is available in the market or we can say there are
different types of language software present but among them Spears language lab is
best for learning English language skills, as it has huge multimedia-based content for
learning as well as practicing exercises. The detail of the content is given below:

 Vocabulary – A language lab consists of 5000+ words for the students to learn
and improve their speaking and writing skills.

 Grammar – The grammar part consists of spot the error, idioms, synonyms,
antonyms, one-word substitute and many other lessons to practice and gain
grammar knowledge.

 Accent training facility – Language lab system also has the feature of accent
training in three languages Indian, British and American.

 Intonation – This feature helps in improving the knowledge of the English

language by knowing the variation of pitch, volume, speed, and stress of voice.

 Phonetics – It is the study of speech sounds. The accent of different words made
easy with phonetics. They help us to pronounce a word in the correct way.

 Pronunciation – Learning how to pronounce a word is very important in the

English language. If the pronunciation is correct, the end-user can easily
understand your message and reply back.
  MTI (Mother Tongue Influence) – Many times we have seen that when people
talk in the English language we can judge their mother tongue, due to the
influence of it. MTI technique is very beneficial in removing this influence.

 Pace of speech – Pace is the key to effective communication in which speech is

clearly understood. The pace of speech should remain constant, not high or low.
In language lab software you can test your pace of speech with the help of a
graph given in the voice recording feature.

 Fluency – In order to improve fluency one can practice the application based on
intonation and modulation. The regular practice will improve the fluency and
brings confidence in the user.

 ASL (Assessment of speaking and listening skills) – This feature of assessment

of speaking and listening skills helps in better communication and check learner’s
proficiency.

 Speech sounds – Pronunciation of consonants and vowel sounds made easy with
correct syllabic division and stress patterns.

 Soft Skills – Spears language lab software also covers soft skills like personality
development, resume writing, group discussion, interview skills and many more
to enhance the overall personality of the learners. These courses will bring
confidence in the user and help in overcoming the fear of speaking in public.

Hence, with the help of English language lab software and by regular practice
students can improve their English language in short duration. Students have very
well understood the importance of English in their lives. If students start learning
from an early age then it will be very easy for them to grab the things and memorize
the concepts. No one can help them until they start helping themselves. So, it is
better to start early then be late in understanding the basics of English language.

Value of Language
If you want to understand someone you have to know what drives them, what they
want and what they cherish. Once you figure this out all of their decisions make
sense, you can connect with them, you can engage with them and, if you are in
business, you can win them over.

Value languages help you:

Predict someone’s behavior or choices

Understand why some people drive you crazy–they speak a different value language

Learn that most misunderstandings stem from simple differences in what people
value

Know how to win someone over by appealing to what they value, instead of
what you value

I have found there are broadly 10 different value languages. You can use these to
identify (and better communicate) with those around you…and don’t forget to see
which one you fall into:

Image

The first Value Language describes people who value image, beauty or aesthetic
appearance above all else. These people spend huge amounts of time and money
on their appearance either through clothes, plastic surgery or beauty regimes. These
people tend to annoy us by spending too much time getting ready and making
friends based on appearance rather than experience. They consistently pick
romantic partners based on the physical rather than personality, and tend to be vain.

Money

Money is one of the most powerful motivators. Those who subscribe to this value
language don’t care how they make money or the consequences of obtaining it; they
just want more of it. It’s not just white-collar criminals; it’s also those who irritate us
by either being cheapskates during holiday gift exchanges or are “gold diggers”
constantly looking for free meals.

Power

Authority, dominance and gaining more power are the biggest drivers for these
people. Those who value power like to be able to influence or persuade others to do
what they desire. They annoy us by trying to assert dominance in inappropriate
situations (commandeering the planning of an event), make power-hungry moves
(taking credit for a work project they did not do) or ‘casually’ mentioning their title,
education level or awards.

Fame

Fame, popularity, legacy and notoriety are the big motivators here. We are seeing a
generation of kids who speak this value language as they upload videos of
themselves singing, post constantly on Facebook and audition for reality shows.
During meetings, they annoy us by always seeking the spotlight when the boss
comes in, wanting to be the center of attention at parties and doing anything to get
recognition.

Perfection

This one is tricky, but very important. Some people value being as close as possible
to what they deem an ideal. They are also called perfectionists. For some, this might
mean playing the perfect “housewife” with 2.5 kids, a golden retriever, a white picket
fence and lots of time for bake sales. People-pleasers and perfectionists are
obsessed with the “ideal” and having everyone like them and what they do. In the
office, ideal-seeking workers put an extreme amount of pressure on themselves to
seem like they have everything under control. They never ask for help and they
never turn down work projects. They also have trouble showing vulnerability with
friends, opening up honestly (for fear of their dirty laundry showing) and never ask
for help when they need it.

Knowledge

People who speak this value language are most commonly called know-it-alls; they
always have an opinion and an obscure news article they once read to back it up.
They often only value others who are “in the know.” They annoy us by never letting
anyone else have an opinion, arguing for fun and pompously telling you about all of
the books on their bedside table. They tend to collect degrees like fine cars.

Experience

These people value exciting and impressive experiences. They constantly tell you
that they have been there, done that. Frequent and long-term travelers, eat-out-
aholics and adrenaline junkies almost always live by this value language because
they value experiences above all else. They can annoy us by bragging about their
frequent trips abroad, airline status and superior knowledge of local restaurants.

Uniqueness

Those who speak the uniqueness value language love to be brazen, radical and
different. We often find them breaking rules, trying to stand out and doing anything
that isn’t traditional. They can annoy us by being contrarian, choosing activities and
clothing for shock value or protesting any and every cause just for fun. They hate
dress codes and being told what to do.

Relationships

People who live by the relationship value language place importance on

relationships. They are often social connectors who have large networks of contacts,
and constantly talk about who they know. They believe you get power by people
proximity. They annoy us by name-dropping, social climbing and pushing to get into
the in-crowd—whether that is in social or business environments. They have an
unbelievable amount of friends on Facebook and a huge LinkedIn network–which
they update constantly.

Control

The control value language is rare but defines people who want to control both their
internal and external environments. People who value control above all else have the
constant need to regulate everything from how they look, to how they feel, to how
others behave. Women are often teased about trying to control their world and those
around them. They annoy us by commandeering collaborative projects, refusing to
ever ask for help, and taking on more than they can handle. They might have
obsessive disorders or be extreme homebodies for fear of being able to not control
what is outside their home.

It is very helpful to do this exercise because once you understand what you
value it will help you see how others use and act upon their value language. I
will write about how to use this in future posts!

Language has economic value, both as a tool of communication and as a cultural

manifestation. Its value as a cultural manifestation has not generally been expressed
quantitatively, but it is nevertheless important. Because the economic benefits of a
common language go beyond personal benefits to wider social benefits
(externalities), including making the economy more efficient, governments may
encourage or impose the use of a language that some members of a community
would not choose to use on their own. Policies may vary according to the specific
circumstances. Some countries have a single dominant language that co-exists with
one or more other languages spoken by linguistic minority groups, either of long-
standing or recent migrants. Other countries have tolerated multiple important
language groups for a long time. The official status of the various languages can also
vary, from equality of rights to the exclusion of some languages, with different kinds
of accommodation possible in between.
References

https://www.scienceofpeople.com/value-language/

https://wol.iza.org/articles/economic-value-of-language-skills/long#:~:text=Language
%20has%20economic%20value%2C%20both,but%20it%20is%20nevertheless
%20important.

https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/processing-the-environment/
language/a/theories-of-the-early-stages-of-language-acquisition

https://www.scribd.com/presentation/434373591/Principles-and-Theories-of-
Language-Acquisition-and-Learning