Understanding Language and Literacy

Understanding Language and Literacy

The language development process equips children with the ability to acquire and comprehend the use, forms, meaning and the utterance of words. The manner in which individuals develops language skills determine their learning ability. However, the debate on how syntax is acquired is a major discussion in linguistic. According to the past research, syntax development may be acquired through empiricist or nativist approach. In an empiricist approach, children develop their syntax rule from linguistic (Callander, 2010). The   nativist approach argues that syntax is transferrable through Genome because they are innate. This paper analyses the work of the most recognized psychologists, Vygotsky and Jean Piaget. The two psychologists developed cognitive theories. The theory addresses the issues related to learning cognitive development (Callander, 2010). The paper further compares and contrasts the two psychologists work. Lastly, although similarities and differences exist the paper summarizes by looking at the implication of theories to teachers and young children in the educational setting.

WRITE THIS ESSAY FOR ME

Tell us about your assignment and we will find the best writer for your paper.

Get Help Now!

Summary and the Key Features Of the Two Theories

Lev ygotsky’s Theory

Vygotsky developmental held that social interactions promote language development. Vygotsky theory revealed language to be the primarily communication tool that enhances accomplishment of the basic human activities. According to Vygotsky (2012), in cognitive development, language plays two fundamental roles that include:

• It is the avenue through which information is transmitted to children.
• Language is used to promote intellectual adaptation.

The work of Vygotsky differentiates language into two basic forms that include social speech and private speech (the language is directed to an individual and promotes intellectual functions). Private speech diminishes in audibility that is changed into inner speech. The speech goes underground due to its self-regulating function especially from tender age (Vygotsky, 2012).

The cognitive theory by Vygotsky holds that language and thought emerges at early age of three year and the two operates separately.  At the age of three the two (thought and speech) becomes interdependent in that speech becomes representational while thought becomes verbal. At this stage, the inner speech is transformed into internalized monologues. Language internalization plays important role as it promotes the cognitive development (Vygotsky, 2012). Therefore, Vygotsky argued that child’s thought are controlled by speech as the core psychological tool in thinking. Therefore, complexities in speech are experienced by children as they develop and age.

The theory has six key assumptions:

• Formal and informal conversations contribute to a child development.
• The early stages of human life cycle play critical roles in development. The approach is supported by the argument that, at this stage language and thought are independent
• Social activities lead to complex mental activities.
• Parents and teachers play important role to assist children accomplish complex/difficult tasks.
• Cognitive development is achieved through challenging tasks.
• Children are able to stretch cognitively through play.

 Jean Piaget’s Theory

Piaget is recognized as the first psychologist to study the cognitive development in a systematic manner. Jean’s theoretical work in the study of behavior and language include the cognitive theory of child development, observational studies to determine cognition in siblings and series of ingenious tests. Initially, before Piaget’s analysis, people had a common psychological assumption that children were less competent than their seniors. In his work, Piaget tests reveal that adults and children think in a different way (Wadsworth, 2010).

According to the Piaget’s cognitive theory, children…………………………………