CLA: Interactionism

Question 1

Interactionalism

Answer 1

Children are born with nothing and learn language from the social environment they are in – this includes caregivers providing support.

Question 2

Bruner

Answer 2

• Developed the Language Acquisition Support System (LASS) which is designed for caregivers to scaffold and support a child’s language to help them get it correct.
• Scaffolding – the support provided by caregivers by modelling how speech ought to take place.

Question 3

Vygotsky

Answer 3

• More Knowledgeable Other (MKO) to help children learn.
• The MKO keeps children in their Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD).

Question 4

Child directed speech

Answer 4

• The various ways in which a caregiver unconsciously adapts their speech to aid a child in their language development.
• Features of CDS include exaggerated facial expressions, raised eyebrows, smile, higher pitch, melodic tones, simpler sentences, repetitive, diminutives, recasts, mitigated imperatives.
• Works because babies enjoy listening to it.
• They pay attention and know it directed at them when someone talks that way

Question 5

Case study of Jim – Bard and Sachs

Answer 5

• Case study of Jim – a boy with two deaf parents. They exposed him to TV and radio to hear language, but he didn’t learn how to speak.
• However, interactions with speech therapists allowed him to acquire language, thus proving the importance of interaction.

Question 6

Case study of the kaluli tribe

Answer 6

Didn’t use child directed speech, but spoke to children like adults and their children all grew up to speak fluently.

Question 7

Key theorists

(3)

Answer 7

• Bruner
• Vygotsky
• Bard and Sachs