Both Zach transcripts contain strong evidence supporting and contrasting Chomsky's theory. Zachy drawing a banana transcript has evidence of Zach speaking grammatically incorrect ''I think I don't'' backing up Chomsky's idea that it's not possible that children have learnt ungrammatical sentences through imitation alone. However in the Zach and the healing robot transcript there is clear evidence of Zach learning through imitation when Zach says ''an I'm sitting here to for waiting to get so it could feel better'' Zach has realised that this sentence is incorrect as he includes ''to get better for it'' Halla responds saying ''waiting for the robot to get better?'' Zach understands the correction replying with ''yeah/yeah'' this can be evidence that contrasts Chomsky's theory of children not learning through imitation. Chomsky's theory says that children are quick to figure out grammatical errors from adults such as when Halla said ''we don't have breakfast?'' and Zach responding with ''we're not gonna have breakfast'' supporting the idea that children do not learn from imitation.
Throughout the Zachy drawing a banana transcript although Halla is the more submissive partner in conversation often responding with questions for Zach to answer, Halla sets the agenda of the conversation as well as topic shifting such as when she asks what Zach is drawing and what he's eaten today. Although Halla sets the agenda she uses more features of being the submissive partner rather than the dominant, Halla would often respond rather than initiate, avoid interrupting by being less assertive and say lots less than Zach. In the Zach and the healing robot transcript Zach controlled the topics and reinforced the required behaviour when Halla asked ''it's a good idea to have some breakfast while we're waiting'' with Zach responding saying ''we don't need breakfast'' Halla would proceed to ask for breakfast whilst Zach would set the agenda to waiting for the robot to heal.
Bibliography:
https://revisionworld.com/a2-level-level-revision/english-language/language-and-power
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooperative_principle
http://www.simplypsychology.org/vygotsky.html
http://www.simplypsychology.org/operant-conditioning.html
https://aggslanguage.wordpress.com/chomsky/
http://www.simplypsychology.org/language.html
Two quite well-developed paragraphs that explore key issues in language. Try and generate more ideas to enable you to meet length criteria. I don;t think Chomsky thinks children don't learn from the language of those around them, just that they are able to come up with grammatical constructions they haven't heard because they have a LAD. I think the quotes you chose are really useful - explore them further e.g. looking at the syntax and what it shows he knows about grammar (pronouns and prepositions and clarifying for a listener - less egocentric). Link to Vygotski and Bruner as well and contrast it with Skinner, all in the same paragraph!
ReplyDeleteTry and explore my role in the context of child-led discourse.
Don't forget Halliday/Dore, morphemes, Deb Roy and other things we have covered to explore the language in the data with and evaluate the relevance to theory.
Good research.