Language acquisition in childrenKurmanšek, Urška (Avtor) Jutronić, Dunja (Mentor) jezikvrojenvrojenostpridobivanje jezikamehanizem za usvajanje jezikajezikovna zmožnostuniverzalna slovnicaAimed at language acquisition in children, its basic requirements and stages, this diploma paper focuses on how language acquisition is looked upon from several language acquisition theories. It sets out to examine Chomskian theories of language innateness and provides us with the answer that language learning is not something a child does, but is something that happens to a child placed in an appropriate environment. Further on, it provides an explanation of Chomskian and Skinner's theories of language acquisition with the purpose of enlightening their standings regarding acquisition of language. In order to defend Chomsky's opinion that successful language acquisition needs the interaction between innate features and child's language environment, a juxtaposition of two dominant theories of language acquisition follows; nativism of Noam Chomsky and behaviourism of B. F. Skinner. The sampled materials defend Chomsky's thesis that humans are born biologically equipped to learn a language, and explain his theory of Language Acquisition Device (LAD) - an inborn mechanism or process that facilitates the learning of language. On the other hand, Skinner easily explains that the child simply "imitates" adults; when the child is positively reinforced it performs a good imitation, and when negatively reinforced - a poor imitation. But there are some very convincing arguments which tell us that children do not just imitate adults' speech. Chomsky argues that there is more to language learning than imitation and reinforcement. Children acquire language easily although the input they receive is scarce, and despite the complexity and abstract character of language. This is fascinating if we consider the fact that they acquire language to a great extent at the age of three, when their cognitive development does not enable them to deal with other demanding tasks. In my opinion, the innateness of language competence is the answer to the question how this miraculous achievement is possible.[U. Kurmanšek]20102010-05-20 12:56:44Diplomsko delo14029UDK: 811.111(043.2)COBISS_ID: 17765128NUK URN: URN:SI:UM:DK:DNKWMMP2sl