Childhood Language Development Process Paper

Childhood Language Development Process Chart Summary Evaluation
Modeling and Reinforcement Modeling is the act of a child or adult, imitating the actions of another person to learn new behaviors and information (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2013). The children or adult learn through observational means and then emulate these learned behaviors at later points in time to promote learning. Reinforcement is the act of providing support for positive behaviors that further development such as praising correct grammar (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2013). Pros: Children and infants do learn through modeling; they imitate adults to learn speech and behaviors.
• Positive reinforcement promotes better relationships and better learning.
Cons: Some behaviors are inherent
Nativism Nativism is a theory that is closely linked to the nature concept in which it entails biology or genes defining language acquisition. The main concept of this theory is the language acquisition device, which is knowledge that people are born with that allows them to learn complicated and new language concepts (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2013). The pre arranged language factors are inherent, meaning they are wired at birth and then when a person is exposed to a language, the language acquisition device becomes active enabling acquisition of a specific language. Pros: Language acquisition starts when children are exposed to language.
• Children are able to start learning a language because they already have the equipment necessary to start the learning process.
Cons: Children acquire language at different periods in their lives, which can disprove the Nativist Theory for though the language acquisition device is there since birth, children do not learn the same way nor at the same
Sensory memory is the immediate processing of information, working memory is the sorting area in which information is categorized, and long-term memory is information that is retained and linked to information that was already learned (Schraw & McCrudden, 2013, pg 1). Pros: Long term memory is built on old information; linking new and old information helps for better comprehension and recollect of information.

Cons: Theory does not take into account environmental factors as a key concept.
Sociocultural Theory Lev Vygotsky founded the Sociocultural Theory. Sociocultural Theory is exposure to different settings and the experiences within these settings in the environment assist in development (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2013). Sociocultural Theory doesn’t only entail the environment, but also how culture impacts development. A culture defines how groups of people live and their beliefs, which is why it can affect development. Each culture has their own ideals of learning and knowledge, which have an impact on the children. Pros: Cultural influences play a big part in development, a correct assumption.
Cons: Little is talked about concerning hereditary or biological factors, which are known influences on