Nature: Universal Grammar
Universal Grammar is a theory proposed by Chomsky that claims children have the ability to learn any language. This is due to what he calls Universal Grammar. He proposes that their is a natural ability in the mind of every human that allows them to learn , and that is how language is further developed. Being born with every linguistic tool that one would need, gives humans the ability to learn language essentially on their own. |
Nurture: Behaviorist Reinforcement
The behaviorist theory is when negative and positive reinforcements are used to gain a desired result. This is often used in classrooms in which teachers use consequences or rewards to motivate a student to succeed. Skinner believed that this nurture style behavior was the reason for language development in children. His claims were that children are rewarded for correct use of language, and either punished or no action at all for incorrect use of language. Children weren't actually learning language, but instead they were learning about rewards and consequences through the behaviorists theory. |
Noam Chomsky & B.F Skinner | Nature Vs Nurture |