-The theory of interactionism involves features of both behaviourism and nativism. Levine & Munsch (ibid: 291) contend that:

According to interactionism, both children’s biological readiness to learn language and their experiences with language in their environment come together to bring about language development, these theorists argue that both are equally necessary for the child to develop language and both must work together.

Brunner (1964/1983) accentuates the important role of language input taken by children from their caregivers.

He argues that language is first and foremost utilized to communicate in an interactionist context (child/parents), where children are provided by the so called (LASS) “Language Activating Support System”. Interactionism merely implies that language is constructed socially. Burner (1974) cited in Kearns (ibid: 153-154) believed that:

Individuals only reached their full potential through social and cultural interactions. These interactions allow individuals to make sense of the world, shaping ideas and beliefs and providing the opportunity to use language to express thoughts…He also argued that development could not be studied in isolation from the child’s social and cultural environment.

Main Criticism

The theory was criticized mainly because of the fact that is extremely impressionistic and unsystematic i.e. it is based merely on general and common ideas whereas a theory should be based on empirical facts and should provide details to explain the steps that the child is supposed to follow to acquire his L1. Another chief criticism directed to the theory was that it includes assumption from different frameworks (two theories in one). Miller (2012:224) has another opinion concerning imitation as she argues that : “imitation is an important and logical tool for teaching prosocial behaviour. We waste a great opportunity to influence children if we do not become particularly aware of our actions and attitudes as well as those communicated by cultural media such as television”. Thus, it is important to take care of what the child imitates as we should be careful about our speech since the child is endowed by a fast captivation of things and words.

Last modified: Saturday, 16 December 2023, 6:12 PM