Child Language Acquisition Questions & Thesis statements
● The CLA questions statements with a general overall view and Thesis to argue
throughout the 30 mark essays.
● The CLA essay statements will always argue for or against one of three:
➢ The importance of interactionism
➢ The importance of nativism
➢ The use or importance of different contexts
● All of these Thesis’ come from the overall perspective that children have or need their
innate foundations to learn language; however, these abilities have to be stimulated
by interaction and learning in different contexts. - A cognitivist perspective favouring
the importance of interactionism and behaviourism.
“Child directed speech is a major factor in the development of a child’s language.” (2017) -
Interactionism
Thesis: Child directed speech is a highlight important role in developing a child's language
because it stimulates cognitive understanding whilst also encouraging a child to speak more
and developing their social skills and behaviour. All of which could not be produced 100%
naturally or innately.
‘The best way to explain children’s language development is to focus on what they use it
for.’ (2018) - Different contexts
Thesis: Whilst the necessities of language functions act as a foundation for wider linguistic
use, focussing entirely on developing language based on ‘what children need for’ would limit
their linguistic and cognitive understanding of grammar rules and language. Meaning
general speech or imaginative play solidifies the ‘necessary’ language of a child.
‘Without the stimulus of different contexts, children cannot fully develop their language.’
(2019) - Different contexts
Thesis: This idea is strongly valuable because different contexts stimulate different
behaviours and needs in language, encouraging a child to use more complex language
structures dependent on the context or people they are interacting with and displaying all of
the linguistic functions.
‘Nature is more important than nurture in a child’s language development.’ (2020) -
Nativism
● The CLA questions statements with a general overall view and Thesis to argue
throughout the 30 mark essays.
● The CLA essay statements will always argue for or against one of three:
➢ The importance of interactionism
➢ The importance of nativism
➢ The use or importance of different contexts
● All of these Thesis’ come from the overall perspective that children have or need their
innate foundations to learn language; however, these abilities have to be stimulated
by interaction and learning in different contexts. - A cognitivist perspective favouring
the importance of interactionism and behaviourism.
“Child directed speech is a major factor in the development of a child’s language.” (2017) -
Interactionism
Thesis: Child directed speech is a highlight important role in developing a child's language
because it stimulates cognitive understanding whilst also encouraging a child to speak more
and developing their social skills and behaviour. All of which could not be produced 100%
naturally or innately.
‘The best way to explain children’s language development is to focus on what they use it
for.’ (2018) - Different contexts
Thesis: Whilst the necessities of language functions act as a foundation for wider linguistic
use, focussing entirely on developing language based on ‘what children need for’ would limit
their linguistic and cognitive understanding of grammar rules and language. Meaning
general speech or imaginative play solidifies the ‘necessary’ language of a child.
‘Without the stimulus of different contexts, children cannot fully develop their language.’
(2019) - Different contexts
Thesis: This idea is strongly valuable because different contexts stimulate different
behaviours and needs in language, encouraging a child to use more complex language
structures dependent on the context or people they are interacting with and displaying all of
the linguistic functions.
‘Nature is more important than nurture in a child’s language development.’ (2020) -
Nativism
