Innatism

Innatism

The Innatist Perspective is related to Chomsky's hypothesis that all human languages are based on some innate universal principles

Krashen's Monitor Model

Monitor Hypothesis

Acquisition Learning Hypothesis

Consciously learned language monitors output

Acquisition: L2 knowledge is acquired as we are exposed to samples of the L2 which we understand without conscious attention to language form. This is an intuitive process.

Acquired language acts to initiate the speaker's utterances and is responsible for spontaneous language use, whereas the learned system acts as a monitor to make minor changes and polishes to the acquired system

Learning: L2 is learned via the conscious process of studying and attention to form and rule learning

1. Acquisition Learning Hypothesis

2. Monitor Hypothesis

3. Natural Order Hypothesis

4. Input Hypothesis

5. Affective Filter Hypothesis

This monitoring takes place when there is only plenty of time, and the speaker is concerned with producing correct language, and has learned relevant rules

Krashen argues that improvement in language ability only depends on acquisition

Affective Filter Hypothesis

The "affect" refers to the learners feelings, motives, needs, attitudes, and emotional states

The affective filter is an imaginary/metaphorical barrier that prevents the acquisition of a language at an i+1 level

If the learner is bored, anxious, or tense, they may filter out input making it unavailable for acquisition.

Input Hypothesis

Natural Order Hypothesis

L2 learners acquire TL features in predictable sequences

Acquisition occurs when one is exposed to language that is comprehensible and that contains "i+1"

He argued that children are biologically programmed for language and that language develops in the child in just the same way that other biological functions develop.

This order is the same among learners and isn't affected by explicit instruction

i = The learner's interlanguage

+1= The next level of acquisition

i+1= Slightly more advanced than current level

Language features that are easiest to state are not necessarily the first to be acquired

The Innatist's Perspective on L1 and L2 Development

In other words, Chomsky believes that children learn to talk the same way they learn to walk

Competence and Performance

Chomsky argues that behaviorism doesn't account for the fact that children come to learn more about the structure of language than they should given the sample of language they are exposed to

Performance is the way a person acutally uses language in listening, speaking, reading, and writing

Competence is the knowledge which underlies our ability to use language

Vocab Review

Performance is subject to variations due to inattenction, anxiety and fatigue whereas competence is a bit more stable

Hypothesis that are human languages are based on some innate universal principles

Innatism

He hypothesized that children are born with a specific innate ability to discover for themselves the underlying rules of a language system on the basis of the samples of a natural language they are exposed to.

Hypothesis of language being hardwird to the brain

Universal Grammar

SLA researchers are more concerned with the competence that advanced learners exhibit rather than the simple early stages

Their investigation will show comparisons of the judgement of grammaticality rather than actual language performance observations

Imaginary black box located in the brain that contains the principles of all human languages

Language Acquisition Device

This hypothesis of language being hardwired to the brain became known as Universal Grammar (UG).

Critical Point Hypothesis

There is a specific and limited time period for the LAD to work successfully

Competence

Knowledge which underlies our ability to use language

Performance

The way a person actually uses language in writing, reading, speaking and listening

L2 learners acquire TL features in predictable sequences

Natural Order Hypothesis

Consciously learned language monitors output

Monitor Hypothesis

Those who believe UG works the same for L1 and L2 believe so because...

Language Acquisition Device (LAD)- An imaginary "black box" or template existing somewhere in the brain.

Contains the principles that are universal to all human languages

The affective filter is an imaginary/metaphorical barrier that prevents the acquisition of a language at an i+1 level

Affective Filter Hypothesis

These things only change the superficial appearance of language performance and don't affect the competence of new language

Like children, adult L2 learners don't benefit from error correction or metalinguistic information

Children need access to samples of a natural language, which serve as a trigger to activate the LAD

Acquisition occurs when one is exposed to language that is comprehensible and that contains "i+1"

Input Hypothesis

However, also UG may be present in adult learners, its exact nature has been altered due to L1 acquistion

L2 knowledge is acquired as we are exposed to samples of the L2 which we understand without conscious attention to language form.

Acquisition Learning Hypothesis

Once this LAD is activated, children can discover the structure of a language to be learned by matching the innate knowledge of basic grammatical principles to the structures of the particular language in the environment

If L2 learners are not given any explicit information on what is grammatical assumptions can take over based on the learner's L1

Evidence to Support Chomsky's Theories

Since Chomsky, many linguists have argued the UG plays a large role in second language acquisition as well.

Virtually all children successfully learn their native language at a time in life when they wouldn't be expected to learn anything so complicated

Children acquire grammatical rules without getting explicit instruction. Therefore, children's acquisition of grammatical rules is probably guided by principle of an innate UG which could apply to all languages

However, others argue that UG does not give the best explanation for SLA acquisition especially for those who have passed the critical period

The language children are exposed to does not contain examples of all the linguistic rules and patterns

Critical Point Hypothesis (CPH) - There is a specific and limited time period for the LAD to work successfully.

The best evidence for CPH is that every almost every child learns language on a similar schedule in spite of different environments.