Language Acquisition
Definition
Language acquisition is the process of learning a language, including the development of syntax, phonology, semantics, and morphology. It is a complex process that begins in early childhood and continues throughout life. It is often divided into two stages, first language acquisition, which covers the development of a first language, and second language acquisition, which covers the development of additional languages.
History
The study of language acquisition began in earnest in the 19th century, with the work of Wilhelm von Humboldt, a German philologist and philosopher. He proposed a theory of language development that focused on the individual, rather than the language itself, and argued that language was an expression of the individual’s spirit. This idea was later developed by Ferdinand de Saussure and Noam Chomsky.
Chomsky’s revolutionary idea of a Universal Grammar was a major breakthrough in the field of language acquisition. He proposed that all languages share a common set of rules and principles, and that language acquisition is a process of uncovering these rules. This theory has been a major influence on the field of language acquisition research.
Characteristics
Language acquisition is a complex process, and there are several characteristics that are important to consider. First, it is believed that language is acquired through interaction with others, rather than through instruction or memorization. This means that the environment plays a major role in language acquisition.
Second, language acquisition is a cumulative process. This means that the more language a learner is exposed to, the more they will learn. It is also believed that language acquisition is incremental, and that learners gradually build up their language skills over time.
Third, language acquisition is thought to be largely unconscious. This means that learners are not necessarily aware of the language they are learning, but that they are still able to acquire it.
Finally, language acquisition is a creative process. This means that learners are able to create new structures and utterances, based on their existing language knowledge.
References
Chomsky, N. (1965). Aspects of the theory of syntax. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Klein, W. (1994). Second language acquisition. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Lenneberg, E. H. (1967). Biological foundations of language. New York, NY: Wiley.
Lubin, D. (2000). The language of learning: An introduction to the study of language acquisition. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Odlin, T. (1989). Language transfer: Cross-linguistic influence in language learning. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.