When thinking about how we actually acquire a language and develop communication skills, it’s important to differentiate between 1st and 2nd languages. Language acquisition involves a combination of innate ability and environmental interaction, and the influence of both of these factors vary depending on whether you are referring to 1st or 2nd language acquisition.

Regardless, there are 4 main theories that experts refer to when discussing how a language is acquired:

  1. Imitation and Habit: This theory proposes that children learn language through the imitation of sounds, words, and sentences that they hear from adults and others around them. Repeated exposure and practice form habits, reinforcing their language skills.
  2. Inatist: Proposed by Noam Chomsky, this theory suggests that children are born with an inherent ability to acquire language. According to this view, humans have a “language acquisition device” (LAD) in their brains that allows them to understand and produce language naturally.
  3. Interactionist: This theory emphasizes the role of social interaction in language development. It argues that language acquisition is driven by the need to communicate and interact with others, with caregivers playing a crucial role in providing linguistic input and feedback.
  4. Affective Factors: This theory highlights the emotional and social aspects of language learning. It suggests that factors such as motivation, attitude, anxiety, and self-confidence significantly influence the ability to acquire and use a language effectively. It states that positive affective factors can enhance learning, while negative ones can hinder it.

Comparison of L1 and L2 Acquisition According to the 4 Theories:

L1-L2-Comparison-1Download

References

Coelho, E. (2016). Adding English : a guide to teaching in multilingual classrooms (Second edition.). University of Toronto Press.