A Critical Evaluation of Two of the Theories of Language Acquisition: (Behaviourism and Mentalism)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page - - - - - - - - - - i

Certification - - - - - - - - - ii

Dedication - - - - - - - - - - iii

Acknowledgements - - - - - - - - iv

Table of contents - - - - - - - - -v

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

1.1 Background Statement - - - - - - 1

1.2 The purpose of study - - - - - - - 4

1.3 The objectives of the study - - - - - - 5

1.4 The delimitation/Scope of the study - - - - 5

1.5 Methodology applied - - - - - - - 6

CHAPTER TWO

Literature review

2.1 The theories of language acquisition - - - - 7

2.2 Jean Piaget’s view on language acquisition and cognitive development in children - - - - - - 8

2.3 Social Interactionist theory - - - - - - 10

2.4 Input Hypothesis or Monitor model - - - - 11

2.5 Behaviourism Mentalism - - - - - - 12

2.5.1 Behaviourism - - - - - - - - 12

2.5.2 Mentalism - - - - - - - - - 15

2.6 Hypothesie making Device - - - - - - 17

2.7 Linguistic universals - - - - - - - 17

2.8 Evaluation procedure - - - - - - - 18

CHAPTER THREE

Methodology

3.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - 21

3.1 Study population - - - - - - - 22

3.2 Sample - - - - - - - - - 22

3.3 Sampling technique - - - - - - - 23

3.4 Method of data collection - - - - - - 23

3.5 Method of data analysis - - - - - - 24

3.6 Conclusion - - - - - - - - - 24

CHAPTER FOUR

Presentation and Analysis of Data

4.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - 25

4.1 Observation of utterances of 3½ years old - - - 25

4.2 Observation of utterances of 2½ years old - - - 31

4.3 Morphology level of the child’s language process - - - 33

4.4 Syntax level of the child’s language - - - - 33

4.5 Semantic level of the child’s language - - - - 34

4.6 Phonological level of the child’s language - - - 35

4.7 The difference between the utterance of 3½ - years old and 2½ years old - - - - - - - - 36

4.8 A critical review of the theories of language acquisition - 37

CHAPTER FIVE

Summary of Findings and Conclusion - - - - - 37

Bibliography - - - - - - - - - 40