Acquisition of L1 (First Language)

by Mateus Vitor da Silva Lima

L1 acquisition happens in a total natural way. The learner acquires L1 mainly through observation and interaction. That is no need of formal instruction during the process of first language acquisition.

The following video shows how spoken language is acquired by speaking children and how it is developed according to their ages:

Some of the theories of first language acquisition widely known are:

Behaviorist Theory - Says that any learning is possible through observation, repetition and god or bad stimuli including language learning. According to the behaviourist theory, language learning is a process of habit formation that involves a period of trial and error where the child tries and fails to use correct language until it succeeds. The bis names of Behaviorist Theory are: John B. Whatson, B. F. Skinner and Ivan Pavlov. 

( https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9c5142_bd5d7501096f40c69f1e522c45649fc7~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_453,h_275,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/9c5142_bd5d7501096f40c69f1e522c45649fc7~mv2.webp)

Linguistic Innatist Theory - Emerged as a response to the behaviorist theory saying that there are many processes during the language acquisition process that behaviorist theory is not able to explain. Defends that everyone is born capable of developing language despite of external factors. For the defensors of this theory language acquirement is some thing autonomous. Noam Chomsky is creditated for creating this theory. 

( https://image.slidesharecdn.com/firstlanguageacquisition-130212162107-phpapp01/95/first-language-acquisition-1-638.jpg?cb=1360686103 )

The Universal Grammar Theory was also proposed by Chomsky and is part of the cognitive approach of language learning. The video below explains a little about Universal Grammar Theory:

REFERENCES:

First Language Acquisition Theories . UKessays:<< https://www.ukessays.com/essays/english-language/theories-of-first-language-acquisition-english-language-essay.php >>