Theorists and their theories.

Child Language Acquisition

Noam Chomsky’s Theory of Innateness.

There has been a battle between whether language acquisition is innate or learned. Whilst Chomsky argues that language acquisition is innate, there are known structures of the brain that control the production of speech. It was not clear to how humans acquire language abilities; this is where Noam Chomsky made his contribution. Chomsky has used many factors to support his theory of language acquisition first is that there is an optimal or ‘the best’ learning ages. Between the ages of 3-10 a child is most likely to learn a language and grasp fluency. After this age it is hard and even considered impossible for a child to grasp the language completely. The second factor is that the child does not need a trigger to begin language acquisition; the caregiver does not need to coax the child in order for them to speak. Several things might help the child develop faster for example being read to. Even if these efforts are not made the child will still eventually learn to speak. This is called L.A.D; Language Acquisition Device.

B.F Skinner’s Imitation and Behaviourist Theory

Skinner brought forward the operant conditioning theory and the use of reinforcement when learning. Positive reinforcement is the strengthening of the correct S-R bond, causing the behaviour to be repeated when it is enforced and negative reinforcement weakens the incorrect S-R bond, causing the behaviour to decrease when it is not reinforced. The operant conditioning theory also included the element of punishment, which was the response from the environment that decreases the likelihood of behaviour to be repeated and punishment weakens behaviour. Skinner also stated that children learn through nurture, they imitate what they hear around them and this is how they learn language.

Jerome Bruner’s Social Integrationist’s Theory

Bruner believed that a child’s social environment and interaction played a huge part in how they learn language. Bruner summarised that the world had three modes, they were:

      Enactive (actions)

      Iconic (pictures

      Symbolic (words and numbers) 

Bruner believed that because children will see these modes because it is what they see in social interactions and used when they perform tasks. Bruner considered language the most important tool in a child’s cognitive development. 

Jean Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory

Piaget believed that all children are born with a mental structure that they inherit which all their knowledge is developed on and based on. Piaget believed that cognitive development was the organisation of mental processes of biological maturation and environmental experience.

Comparability task

Comparability

Task:

How far does the language of advertising vary according to the gender of the target audience?

How does a ‘live’ commentary on radio differ from one on television?

If I was too investigate how far the language of advertising varies according to the gender of the target audience I would use the data of the top ten boy’s toys in a catalogue and the top ten girl’s toys. I would discuss the fact that they both use the same techniques and features apart from the ‘one variable’ of gender. For example, the catalogue is likely to use symbols associated with the gender of the target audience, it will have flowers, hearts, stars and babies whereas there will likely to be fire, muscle, cars ect advertising the top ten boys toys. Also the type of lexis used will vary as the advertisement will involve more lexis that is appealing to the audience. For example, boys lexis will include 'strong, tough, action' whereas girls lexis would include 'pretty, care, cute'

If I was too investigate the difference in a ‘live’ radio commentary and one on television the one variable would be that you can see the television broadcast whereas you can only hear the radio broadcast. The radio broadcaster will be use many adjectives in order to describe to the listeners what exactly is going on, they will talk constantly to inform the listeners of what they need to know and what they are listening too, however, on a television broadcast you can visual see what is happening so the commentator will not have to describe every single aspect of the viewing. If the data was a surfing competition on both of the live handsets a radio broadcaster would say ‘Slater swims 20 metre out to the next wave’ whereas on the television the commentator would just say 'Slater swims out to the wave’. 

Reliability task

Reliability:

Task: how could you collect reliable data on the following topics:

Editor’s letter in women’s and men’s magazines

Brian Cox’s tweets

Michael Gove’s comments on education

If I was looking at an Editor’s letter in women’s and men’s magazines I would collect the same amount of each data, for example three men’s magazines and three women’s magazines. I would then go on to compare the three men’s editors’ letters from the magazine and secondly then compare the three women’s magazines. In my comparison I would pick out the lexis and language style used and comment on the similarities and differences in the magazines, depending on the gender it is aimed at. 

While looking at Brian Cox’s tweet I would choose a few tweets, maybe every 10 from the fortnight. This would be not too much data and will give a longer insight into the tweets not just a snapshot of them and there would be a fair selection of tweets, they would range from different mood levels, different tweets, different routine so on. This would be better as you can analyse what you need to quick and easy.

If I had to find reliable data about Michael Gove’s comments on education, I would find a number of interviews or transcripts of his comments and then I would try and apply the way he talks to any theories.

                            Analysis of my data.

 

Which data you chose and why?

I chose to transcribe the data in the video called ‘Geordie Shore: Ricci and Vicky talk weddings and shocking.’ I chose to use this data as I find the way men and women speak differently interesting so this one seemed perfect. It would also broaden my knowledge and understanding on the subject by looking at the theories related to it.

What you found and what theory you linked it to
 

To me, listening and watching this video made it seemed as though the couple Ricci and Vicky may have rehearsed and practiced what they were going to say as it seems to be a promotional video for their TV programme Geordie shore. So they avoided being crude and inappropriate. Showing that this could of in fact have known exactly what to say throughout the interview. Looking through the theorists and their theories I decided to relate my findings to language and gender theorist Robin Lakoff. In 1975 Lakoff published an account of women’s language. She published a set of assumptions that were to show the differences between men and women’s language use. Since they are different sexes, it is a lot easier to compare the range of language they use and how it changes when either of them is speaking. For example Vicky uses hedging ‘we have a sort of like’ would be one of the examples of when she has used it in the transcript.

What other data you could choose to go with it or replace it with to make an investigation

In order to investigate the difference theory rather than looking at the Geordie shore transcript I would create a more natural atmosphere and sit with a group of girls and record their conversation then onto a group of boys and record their conversation. I would then transcribe both conversations and analysis and pick out the differences between the lexis, phrases etc. that they use.

 

What you would call that investigation

Women are from venus, men are from mars but is their language in sync?

Waddup Brahhh

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