The interaction of human beings made possible through use of the language.No society around this world no matter ,its economical status operates without its own language.Language help us to express our feelings ,emotions ,ideas and general informations and warnings.
According to Owens(1984:3)defines language as,"a socially shared code of conventional system for representing concepts through the use of it arbitrary symbols that rule governed combination of those symbols."
Lynons(1992:121)adds that,"language is purely human and non instintive method of communicating ideas emotions and desires by means of voluntary symbols."
Therefore the functions of language in the human environments is to facilitate a variety of social experiences ,for example feelings of happiness,grief,labelling ,answering or obtaining information that are calling,requesting ,greeting protesting etc.
The theory of language acquisitions developed by behaviourist.
Behaviourist Theory was propounded by B.F Skinner who carried out an experiment with hungry rats and pigeons in a box through certain patterns of behaviours, rats found out that environment (stimuli)was the main source of knowledge.The rats learnt to press the lever accidentially to get food.The pressing of lever was trial and error.When the rat continued to press the lever inorder to feed itself the persistant of the process is the process of conditioning.Skinner identified his process as operant conditioning.The Skinner's theory is: Stimulus>>Response>>Reinforcement >>Mastery /Extinction
Therefore behaviourist's theory on language is that acquisition can be said to be premised based on the notion that:
♦conditioning is the main unit of the language learning.
♦language is acquired through trial and error and acquisition is an association between stimulus and response from repeated actions.
♦Environment is the main instrument for language acquisition as organism learns from harsh and comfort offered by physical environment.
Behaviourists'Theory its implications to the teaching and learning of language development ,Skinner prepared enviroment for rats/pigeons to operate.In the teaching and learning the environment must be conducive ,be it the language needed to be developed there should be frequently use of giving instructions.The media should reflect the language components need to be developed.
The theory emphasised the importance of environment in the learning of language.A child can learn language from parents,sibblings ,peers ,electronic media like TVs ,PC,Radios ,Music ,Internet etc. A teacher is expected to shape language behaviour in learners by reinforcing what is good and punishing wrong use of language.
Stimulus response recognised the importance of learning by doing. So learners should be involved in dialogues,dramas ,life situations like buying and selling can be role played.Use of objects or flashcards with written words.
The teacher can use response diligently to develop desired behavioural patterns.Correction of language should be reinforced positively.Be aware the negative reinforcement which adversely discourages learning activities to develop language skills.
Feedback is very necessary in language development.Mistakes should be corrected on the spot,written work should be marked as soon as possible.
Behaviourists believe that learning is effective through repetition and immitation.Repetition makes the learning to recall and memorise permanently and immitation develops to spontaneously follow by demostration.Therefore the teacher should be a role model who can teach by demostrating and leading.
The Strength of Skinner's Theory:Children learn the correct things instantly.The communication rapport between the teacher and the pupils is very good.It also encourages the teacher to prepare thoroughly the lesson to make the environment conducive for learning and teaching.
The Weaknesses of Skinner's Theory:Children cannot learn language on their own thus why we acknowledge the persistant mistakes which needs to be corrected time and again. Constant repetition encourages drilling ,rote learning and cramming this eventually return back to the traditional way of learning and learners are drilled to be passive receipients.
Human beings are unique in possessing linguistic capabilities.Therefore the research of identifying how language can be developed in children is ineffective in using animal comparisons which do not have the capability to use language like human beings .
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