Simplify the following

Question

(b) Language and thought
Piaget suggested that cognitive development comes first, which in turn, makes
language development possible. Vygotsky disagreed with Piaget. He believed that language
ability reflects almost every aspect of the child's thought. For him, language is a potent
instrument in structuring thought and regulating cognitive behaviour. Therefore, thinking
would not be possible without language. Vygotsky emphasised that during early infancy,
speech (babbling) does not involve thought, and thought (reaching, grasping for objects)
does not involve speech. However, at some point in the maturational process (generally
around the age of two), speech and thought combine forces. When this occurs, they begin
to influence each other mutually: Thought takes some verbal characteristics, and speech
becomes rational as the expressive outlet for thought.
Vygotsky also differed from Piaget regarding children's self-talk while playing. Piaget
used the term egocentric speech for self-talk in children. To him, egocentric speech
plays no functional role in cognitive development and is merely an example of children's
general egocentrism during the preoperational stage, which disappears at the end of
the preoperational stage. Vygotsky used the term private speech for children's self�talk, viewing it as an intermediate step toward the self-regulation of cognitive skills. At
first, children's behaviour is regulated by another person's speech directed toward them.
When children first try to control their own behaviour and thoughts without others present,
they instruct themselves by speaking aloud. As children gain greater skill, private speech
becomes inner speech at the ages of six or seven. This is an important tool for cognitive
growth and is regarded as thought. Vygotsky suggested that logical thinking results from
the internalisation of speech routines acquired from older children and adults in the social
world.
Research has demonstrated that two- to five-year-olds do better in performance tasks
when they talk to themselves than when they are silent (Winsler et al., 2007). As children begin talking to themselves, their communication skills with the outside world improve. In
fact, Winsler and his co-authors advise adults to listen to the private speech of children; it
is a wonderful window into their minds

Answer 1

Language and Thought: A Comparison of Piaget and Vygotsky

Piaget proposed that cognitive development precedes language development, while Vygotsky disagreed, arguing that language significantly influences thought. For Vygotsky, language is crucial for shaping thought and regulating cognitive behavior, suggesting that thought cannot exist without language.

In early infancy, Vygotsky noted that speech (like babbling) and thought (such as reaching for objects) develop separately. However, around age two, speech and thought begin to interact and influence each other. As they merge, thought starts to adopt verbal traits, and speech becomes a clearer expression of thought.

Moreover, Vygotsky and Piaget held different views on children's self-talk during play. Piaget referred to this as egocentric speech, believing it did not aid cognitive development and simply reflected a child's self-centeredness, which fades by the end of the preoperational stage. In contrast, Vygotsky called it private speech, seeing it as a critical step in learning self-regulation. Initially, children's behavior is guided by external speech from others. As they strive for independence, they use private speech to direct their actions, which eventually evolves into inner speech around ages six or seven. This development is essential for cognitive growth and typically reflects thought processes.

Research indicates that children aged two to five perform tasks better when they use self-talk rather than remaining silent (Winsler et al., 2007). Additionally, as children engage in private speech, their communication skills with others also improve. Winsler and colleagues encourage adults to pay attention to children's private speech, as it offers valuable insights into their thinking.