Understanding Language and Literature Edu10002 Assessment 1

2018 Words9 Pages
EDU10002 Understanding Language and Literature Assessment 1 There are many theoretical perspectives explaining how children develop and acquire language. Two well recognised cognitive psychologists, Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky, developed theories that addressed cognitive development and learning among children. Both theorists explore the development of a child’s way of thinking and examine the processes in how these developmental stages occur and impact on a child’s acquisition of language. Whilst there are similarities between the two theories, there are also significant differences. Language acquisition is the cognitive process where humans acquire the ability to perceive and comprehend language, as well as to produce and use words and sentences to communicate with one another (Friederici 2011). It is known that as physical development occurs in infants, the voice box dropping down, enhanced control of tongue muscles and the ability to hear, language development and acquisition occurs (BBC, 1998). Also, cognitive development is related to language development, where the inner processes such as remembering, reasoning, problem solving and creating are forming mental activity that leads to the ‘knowing’ (Berk, 2013). Children build on these developmental processes with physical movement and touch, gathering perceptions of the world using all the sense organs (Berk, 2013). Piaget and Vygotsky both identified the most important source of cognition is the child itself. They both identified that children are busy, self motivated explorers, forming ideas, that they then test against the world (Berk, 2013) to form and develop communication skills for communicating with others. Piaget’s ideas have been of practical use in understanding and communicating with children, particularly in the field of education. Piaget became interested in the way children at different
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