Question

according to the theories, nature and nurture are both important to language development.
a. behaviorist
b. nativist
c. evolutionary
d. interactionist
please select the best answer from the choices provided
a
b
c
d

Explanation:

• Behaviorist theories emphasize the role of environment and learning (nurture) through processes like reinforcement. For example, B.F. Skinner suggested language is learned through imitation and reinforcement. It does not give equal importance to nature.
• Nativist theories (e.g., Chomsky's Language Acquisition Device - LAD) emphasize the role of innate (nature) biological endowments. Chomsky believed humans are born with an inherent ability to acquire language, downplaying the role of nurture.
• Evolutionary theories focus on how language may have evolved as an adaptive trait over generations. While it considers some biological (nature - related) aspects in an evolutionary sense, it is not centered on the equal importance of nature and nurture for an individual's language development.
• Interactionist theories (e.g., Vygotsky's sociocultural theory) posit that language development is a result of the interaction between innate (nature - like the potential for language) and environmental (nurture - social interaction, cultural context) factors. For instance, Vygotsky emphasized the role of social interaction (nurture) in scaffolding language development, but also recognized that children have an inherent capacity (nature) to engage in such interactions and develop language.

Answer:

D. interactionist