Theories of Language Development

In Chapter 3 of the Piper (2012) textbook you were introduced to four different theories of cognitive and language development in diverse learners. As an early childhood development professional, it is important to be knowledgeable about all of these theories so that you can choose those that are best aligned with your beliefs regarding language and cognition.

To prepare for this discussion,

• Please refer to the Week 1 Guidance for further tips and examples that will support your success on this discussion.
• Read Piper (2012).
  • Chapter 1: The Nature of Language
  • Chapter 2: How It’s Built: The Structure of Language
  • Chapter 3: Learning Language: How Children Do It
• Review the Guidelines for Summarizing SourcesLinks to an external site.

For your initial post, address the following:

• Summarize each theory using separate paragraphs to describe each specific theory. Support your ideas with at least one scholarly source.
• Discuss whether you think language acquisition is largely instinctive or is a learned behavior, using evidence from the readings as support.
• Explain how you will use the information gained in your future role as an early childhood development professional.