Skinner suggested that children learn how to construct grammatical sentences as a result of
A) trial and error.
B) receiving specific instruction from adults on grammatical rules.
C) imitating the sentences of adults and older children.
D) the functioning of the language acquisition device (LAD).

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Skinner proposed that children acquire language through a process of operant conditioning, where they learn to imitate the language they hear from others and receive reinforcement when they produce grammatical sentences. This suggests that children construct grammatical sentences by imitating the sentences of adults and older children around them, rather than through trial and error or explicit instruction on grammatical rules. The idea of the LAD, proposed by Chomsky, suggests that humans have an innate ability to learn language, but Skinner did not propose this theory.

Skinner Suggested That Children Learn How to Construct Grammatical Sentences