Thesis Abstract

Abstract
Language acquisition is a fascinating area of study that has attracted the attention of researchers for decades. Two prominent theories that have been proposed to explain how individuals acquire language are behaviourism and mentalism. Behaviourism, rooted in the principles of stimulus-response associations, posits that language is learned through imitation, reinforcement, and conditioning. On the other hand, mentalism, also known as nativism or innateness hypothesis, suggests that humans are inherently predisposed to acquire language through cognitive processes and an innate language acquisition device. This research project critically evaluates these two theories of language acquisition, exploring their strengths, weaknesses, and implications for understanding how individuals learn language. Behaviourism, with its emphasis on observable behavior and environmental influences, provides valuable insights into the role of reinforcement and conditioning in language learning. Proponents of this theory argue that language is acquired through imitation of models and reinforcement of correct linguistic behaviors. However, behaviourism has been criticized for oversimplifying the complex process of language acquisition and neglecting the role of cognitive factors in linguistic development. In contrast, mentalism offers a compelling explanation for the rapid and universal acquisition of language by children. The theory posits that humans are born with a biological predisposition for language acquisition, supported by a dedicated language module in the brain. This innate capacity for language allows individuals to extract complex linguistic patterns and structures from the input they receive, enabling them to develop a sophisticated linguistic system. While mentalism provides a comprehensive account of language acquisition, critics argue that it overlooks the influence of environmental factors and the role of social interaction in shaping language development. By critically evaluating behaviourism and mentalism, this research project aims to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms involved in language acquisition. By examining the strengths and limitations of each theory, researchers can gain valuable insights into the complex interplay between cognitive processes, environmental influences, and biological predispositions in shaping language learning. Ultimately, a nuanced understanding of language acquisition theories can inform educational practices, language interventions, and our broader understanding of human cognition.

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background Statement

Language forms the fundamental function of communication. As social beings, we use it as our medium of communication to help us communicate with people that live both within and beyond our regional/geographical locations just as it is the case that other people from within and outside our environment do communicate with us. Language occurs almost wherever we come into contact with other people and will be different according to the nature of the contact. It is noted that our lives take us through a succession of activities requiring the use of language. The activities are very diverse and, what ever dialect we speak, have specific feature of language associated with them. Many activities are connected with our jobs. One may be an engineer giving instructions to a draughtsman; a lawyer advising a client; a trade union official discussing fringe benefits; a bus conductor collecting transport. Fares; A sergeant instructing a soldier; or a scientist reading a technical report. Other activities are part of our leisure. We may be playing tennis, football, or

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volley ball. Or relating to our home life, we may be acting as a mother, a father, a husband, a wife, a son or a daughter.

To acquire language in the actual sense seems to depend on the linguistic atmosphere in which the child is brought up. Skinner (1957) stresses that language is not a mental phenomenon but a behavioral one. Alllen and Burren (1971:135) hold the view that language is essentially an adventitious construct, taught by conditioning or drill and explicit explanation,, or by built-up elementary data processing procedures. “language acquisition is controlled by the condition under which it takes place and that as long as individuals are subject to the same conditions they will learn the same way”, (Wilkins, 1972:169-4). This might be the reason why a child raised in Hausa speaking community will acquire Hausa language. One brought up in China acquires Chinese and vice verse incase that happens to take place.

It is worth to note that there are linguists that do not give much emphasis to the linguistic atmosphere that language learner/acquirer finds himself; but rather stress much emphasis on a learners’/acquirer’s innate language learning/acquiring capacity. According to Atchison (1989,p.55) ‘Human are genetically imprinted with knowledge abut language”. This claim seems to have gone inline with the observation made by Fodor

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(1974), Bever and Garrett (1974) who stressed that training a dog to walk on its hind legs does not prejudice the claim the bipedal gait is genetically coded in humans. “The fact that human begins can learn/acquire to whistle like a lark does not prejudice the species-specificity of birdsong” Fodor, Bever and Garrett (12974, p. 451).

With these claims in mind therefore, it might be right to assume that other animals’ inability to talk, acquire or learn language in its actual sense supports the assumption that language is restricted to human race alone.

The aim of the study is to establish the fact that language is so important to human beings that we can not exist without it as the medium through which we transact all our worldly affairs I equally intend to establish that there is a need for all of us (students of English language to realize that there exists distinction between language acquisition and language learning. Then I finally want to state that in this project, I will critically examine some of the theories of language acquisition. The views of mentalists and behaviorists are specifically the ones that will be discussed in this write up.

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1.2     The Purpose of the Study.

In this project I intend to explore and discuss, very critically, some of the theories of language acquisition. In essence, particularly aim to critically examine the strengths and weaknesses of behaviorists and mentalists theories before we eventually state our stand. The project topic has been given different titles in different periods, suggesting angles and different foci by different people especially scholars of linguistics and psycholinguistics. However, I am of the view that the plausibility of their words needs to be accepted or rejected on marital basis. It is with that fundamental objective in mind I decided to undertake this project.

I hope among other things that some of the important contributions of this research work would include additional knowledge or all theories of language acquisition, provide additional data on language acquisition research works especially those that’s elected and critically examine Behaviorists and mentalists views. I hope it would equally assist towards contributing to the growing literature on acquisition/learning of language generally.

1.3   The Objectives of the Study

The objectives of the study are:

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(1)       To critically evaluate two of the theories of language acquisition and learning (Behavourism and Mentalism).

(2)       To explore the extent to which behaviouralist and mentalist theories of language acquisition influence in acquisition of language.

1.4   THE DELIMITATION/SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The project, due to time and space factors, will only attempt to critically discuss two theories of language acquisition/learning with special attention or contrastive Analysis of the behaviorist and mentalist theories.

1.5   METHODOLOGY APPLIED

In the course of this project, both primary and secondary source materials would be used. I would mainly make use of fact gathered from text books, periodicals and consultations with the project supervisor, lecturers, colleagues and friends who seem to have got reasonable quality and quality data materials that could help make this project a big success.