Journal Entry 1

WEEK 2

THEORIES OF LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

28 March 2025

 

Today, while studying the different theories on language acquisition, I was impressed by how each perspective offers a unique view on how we learn to speak. From behaviourism to connectionism, each theory complements or challenges the other, and this made me reflect on my own experience with languages, reminding me of my General Linguistics classes in the second semester and prompting me to revisit my notes before writing today's entry.

Behaviourism, for example, is evident whenever we notice adults conversing with children and encouraging them to repeat phrases constantly. This theory shows how the environment and repetition can be fundamental in the early stages, even though it is not an absolute answer. There is a phase where children simply use their imagination and create imaginative sentences they have never heard before, or invent words. Behaviourism also helps us understand that phase every child goes through: they already know, have learned to conjugate a verb in the past, for example: “I ran”, but after a while, it's as if they unlearn it, they become aware of a pattern and try to apply it to all verbs, resulting in sentences like “I runned”. This phenomenon is not unique to English; similar patterns can be observed in other languages, such as Spanish (yo corrí > yo corré) and my native Portuguese (eu corri > eu correu).

Chomsky's innatism, on the other hand, draws my attention to the idea that we are born "programmed" for language. I find it incredible to think that there is a "universal grammar" within us, allowing us to learn any language. While I like innatism, it wouldn't stand without exposure; it's a good theory, but I think it lacks a stronger foundation.

It's difficult for me to choose a single theory to embrace alone; all of them make a lot of sense to me and complement each other. Cognitivism, for instance, with its different approach linking language to mental development, makes me reflect on how, as children, we typically learn concepts like "tall" and "short" before using such words. This makes a lot of sense, as Piaget says that language reflects our cognitive growth. On the other hand, Vygotsky makes me reflect more on social interactions and how, in conversations with my family members, for example, who didn't have access to as much education as I did, I tend to adapt what I want to say to a more popular language so they can understand and absorb what I want to convey to them.

Connectionism sounds like the most "modern" of the group, with its emphasis on neural networks, making me think about how constant practice is essential, but also how our brain is capable of generalizing patterns, even making creative mistakes in the process, like the one I mentioned above in the verb conjugation process, showing once again how theories always complement each other in some way.

While reading about language theories, it was inevitable not to think of Saussure, one of the pillars of linguistics, even though his main work does not focus on foreign language acquisition. His work dialogues with these theories. For example, his idea that "the point of view creates the object" made me think about how each theory (behaviourism, innatism, etc.) shapes our understanding of language in different ways. For Saussure, language is not something fixed, but a socially constructed system, which reminds me of connectionism, with its emphasis on neural networks and learning through experience.

In the end, I realized that no theory explains everything on its own. Language acquisition seems to be a combination of factors: genetics, environment, interaction, and practice. This motivated me to continue learning, knowing that every mistake or success is part of a complex and fascinating process.

Studying linguistics will always be fascinating for me; I always leave with more questions than when I arrived, a greater thirst to seek answers, and a greater appreciation for the mystery of human language. I want to explore more how these theories apply to learning foreign languages, not just because I love learning new languages, but also to be the best teacher I can be.

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The feedback I received for this entry is presented below.

Hi Eriovan,

        Thank you for your thoughtful and passionate reflection. Your journal entry clearly demonstrates your genuine interest in linguistics and language acquisition. I really appreciated how you not only summarized the theories but also connected them to your personal experiences and background—especially the examples in Portuguese and Spanish, which enriched your reflections. Your mention of Saussure added a unique touch, showing your ability to interrelate concepts from different areas of linguistic theory—well done!

        You’ve done a great job weaving together theory and personal insight, showing an awareness of how different frameworks interact rather than treating them as isolated ideas. This makes your reflection particularly rich and intellectually engaging.

         For future journal entries, consider focusing a bit more on depth over breadth. While you addressed all the theories, there were moments where you could have gone deeper into fewer examples or made your personal experience more central, especially in connection with the one theory that resonated with you the most. Since the prompt asked for a choice and explanation, narrowing your focus would help your reflection feel more cohesive.

        Also, just a small reminder: make sure to follow the file naming instructions we've provided. This helps with organizing and reviewing everyone’s work efficiently.

      Keep up the great work—your curiosity and reflective tone are exactly what we hope to see in these entries!