Theories about the Nature

of Language
 Behaviorist/Empiricist Theory

Proponents:
Leonard Bloomfield
B. F. Skinner,
Charles Fries

A. Language is a set of arbitrary symbols

B. Language is a system of habits
C.Language is acquired behavior through conditioning
and reinforcement.
D. Language is surface structure
 II. Rationalist/ Cognitivist/ Mentalistic Theory –

Proponent: Noam Chomsky

A. Language is a mental process- a creative construction
process
B. Language is rule- governed behavior
C. The speaker-hearer has internalized the rules of the
language
D. There is a universal grammar –all languages share key
characteristics
E. A language has a deep and surface structure
 III. Nativist Theory

Proponent: Eric Lenneberg

A. A language is an innate or inborn capacity
of man.
B. Man has LAD –Language Acquisition
Device
C. Language is species- specific
 IV. Sociolinguistic Theory
Proponents: Dell Hymes
Michael A.K. Halliday
A. Communication Theory
Input ------------------------------- Output
Encoding ------------- Code language ----------- Decoding
Speaker/Writer Sounds/graphemes Listener/
Reader

Language is not only a set of rules of formation (linguistic

competence) but also a set of rules for the use of language
B. Pragmatic Theory– John Oller
1. Participants in a conversation should have shared
knowledge or presupposition
2. Language has two elements:
a. Factive or cognitive element
- the use of language through
words, phrases, sentences
b.Emotive or affective attitudinal
element –man’s outlook
towards and his non-verbal
communication
Activity
Summarize the theories about the nature of language
using the following table:

Theory Proponent Principles/

Beliefs