Theories of Cognitive and Language Development

by | Oct 8, 2024 | developement

 

In early childhood development, several cognitive and language development theories are viewed as frameworks in the field. As a professional, it is essential that you understand these theories. This discussion will help you to build your framework of these theories and reflect on those most aligned with your beliefs.

Research the nativist perspective.If your last name begins with N – SResearch the interactionist perspective.If your last name begins with T – Z

Research the evolutionary perspective.

Title your post with the theory of your research. Address the following in your post, including evidence from the readings to support your ideas.

Explain your assigned theory of language development in two to three paragraphs using one scholarly resource from University of Arizona Global Campus Library to support your analysis.
Describe why this theory has validity for the purpose of language development.
Explain why you do or do not support this perspective of language development.
Defend what you see as strengths or weaknesses of this theory when applied to your future career.

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

The nativist perspective, also known as the innatist or universal grammar theory, posits that humans are born with an innate language acquisition device (LAD) that enables them to acquire language rapidly and effortlessly. This theory, primarily associated with linguist Noam Chomsky, suggests that language development is a biologically determined process, not solely influenced by environmental factors.

According to Chomsky, the LAD is a specialized neural structure that contains universal grammatical rules common to all languages. This innate knowledge allows children to acquire complex grammatical structures with minimal exposure to language. The nativist perspective emphasizes the role of biological predispositions in language development, arguing that children’s ability to learn language is not solely dependent on environmental input

The nativist perspective, also known as the innatist or universal grammar theory, posits that humans are born with an innate language acquisition device (LAD) that enables them to acquire language rapidly and effortlessly. This theory, primarily associated with linguist Noam Chomsky, suggests that language development is a biologically determined process, not solely influenced by environmental factors.

According to Chomsky, the LAD is a specialized neural structure that contains universal grammatical rules common to all languages. This innate knowledge allows children to acquire complex grammatical structures with minimal exposure to language. The nativist perspective emphasizes the role of biological predispositions in language development, arguing that children’s ability to learn language is not solely dependent on environmental input

Validity of the Nativist Perspective

The nativist perspective has several strengths in explaining language development. First, it accounts for the rapid and effortless way children acquire language, often mastering complex grammatical structures at a young age. Second, the theory provides an explanation for the universality of language, suggesting that all languages share underlying grammatical principles. Third, the nativist perspective highlights the importance of biological factors in language development, which is supported by research on language-related brain structures.

Support for the Nativist Perspective

While the nativist perspective offers a compelling explanation for language development, it is not without its limitations. Some critics argue that the theory overemphasizes the role of innate factors and underestimates the importance of environmental influences. For example, children raised in language-deprived environments, such as those who are deaf or isolated from language exposure, may exhibit delays or difficulties in language acquisition.

Strengths and Weaknesses in Relation to Future Career

As a professional in early childhood development, the nativist perspective can provide valuable insights into language development and inform my practice. Understanding the role of innate factors can help me recognize the potential for language acquisition in young children and support their language development through appropriate interventions. However, it is important to acknowledge the limitations of the nativist perspective and consider the interplay of biological and environmental factors in language development.

Conclusion

The nativist perspective offers a valuable framework for understanding language development. While it emphasizes the role of innate factors, it is important to recognize the influence of environmental factors as well. By considering both biological and environmental influences, I can provide comprehensive support for children’s language development in my future career.

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