LanguageThe main theories of language acquisition, and the evidence for each.PsychologyNativist — ChomskyInnate language acquisitiondeviceUniversal grammar underlying alllanguagesPoverty of the stimulus argumentCritical period for acquisitionErrors are rule-based, notimitatedLearning & interactionistSkinner: reinforcement andimitationStatistical learning from inputChild-directed speech scaffoldsitSocial interaction is necessaryConnectionist models learnwithout innate rulesTHE DIFFERENCE THAT MATTERSOver-regularisation — 'goed', 'foots' — is the key evidence forrules: children produce forms they have never heard.The critical period is supported by cases of extreme deprivation and bysecond-language accent data.Languagelearnposters.com
Language — printable life science wall chart from LearnPosters. Free vector PDF, US Letter and A4.

What’s on the Language poster

Nativist — Chomsky against Learning & interactionist, side by side.

The critical period is supported by cases of extreme deprivation and by second-language accent data.

Questions about the Language poster

What’s on the Language poster?
Nativist — Chomsky against Learning & interactionist, side by side. Nativist — Chomsky: Innate language acquisition device; Nativist — Chomsky: Universal grammar underlying all languages; Nativist — Chomsky: Poverty of the stimulus argument; Nativist — Chomsky: Critical period for acquisition; Nativist — Chomsky: Errors are rule-based, not imitated; Learning & interactionist: Skinner: reinforcement and imitation; Learning & interactionist: Statistical learning from input; Learning & interactionist: Child-directed speech scaffolds it; Learning & interactionist: Social interaction is necessary; Learning & interactionist: Connectionist models learn without innate rules; Over-regularisation — 'goed', 'foots' — is the key evidence for rules: children produ…. The critical period is supported by cases of extreme deprivation and by second-language accent data.
Who is the Language poster for?
Language belongs to the Psychology section rather than to a school year, because life science is not something one grade owns. Anyone learning cognitive can pin it up — a beginner, a student mid-course, or someone revising years later.
When should you use the Language poster?
Nature and nurture both have evidence. The debate is about the balance. A wall chart earns its place by being glanceable from where the work is happening, so Language belongs on the wall where that life science work actually happens, within glancing distance, rather than filed away.
What other posters go with Language?
Attention, Cognitive Load and Decision Making sit alongside Language in the Psychology section. Printed together they make a wall rather than a single sheet, which is how a reference set actually gets used.AttentionCognitive LoadDecision Making
Is the Language poster free to download and print?
Yes. Language downloads as a free PDF with no account, no email and no watermark, like everything else in the Psychology section. Print as many copies as you like for a home, a classroom, a library or a tutoring group; reselling the file is the only thing the licence rules out.Read the licence
What size does the Language poster print at?
Language is a vector PDF laid out for US Letter, and prints on A4 with Fit to page — the same file, no separate download. Because every mark on it is drawn rather than photographed, it stays sharp enlarged to A3, A2 or A1 at a copy shop. Colour carries emphasis only, so a greyscale print of Language loses nothing.Printing guide

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