Simplify the following

Question

Operant conditioning: The most significant contribution in the field of operant
conditioning has been made by B.F. Skinner (see Chapter 1). Skinner and his followers
maintain that parents are excellent instructors because they react to all gestures and
sounds uttered by babies, thereby reinforcing speech. For instance, when babies say
"bisc" they are rewarded with a biscuit; when they say "wa" they are rewarded with
water and when they say "mo" they are rewarded with a smile and a kiss from their
mother. Meaningless and incorrect words are not reinforced and in time, they are
dropped from the child's vocabulary. In this way, children's language improves until
they can speak fluently. This child-centred speech also occurs in non-literate societies
where the parent responds with a higher pitch, short sentences, emphasised words,
and simple grammar — precisely the techniques emphasised by behaviourists. In
addition, if any word is associated with a strong emotional experience, it is reinforced
and given a permanent place in the child's vocabulary. For instance, if a bee flies
into the room and stings the baby, it is highly likely that the word "bee" will be given a
prominent place in the child's vocabulary. The same applies to swearwords because
they are usually associated with a strong emotion. This reinforces the word and makes
it easy for the child to remember.
► Imitation: Learning theorists believe that children learn a language by imitating
the speech of adults. The rationale behind this contention is that, since it is a well�known fact that children imitate the behaviour of adults, this principle should apply to
language as well. The parents act as models because they not only speak the word
the child may imitate, but also expand on what the child says.

Answer 1

Operant Conditioning and Language Acquisition

B.F. Skinner made key contributions to operant conditioning, emphasizing that parents teach language by responding to their children's vocalizations. When babies attempt to speak, such as saying "bisc," they receive rewards like a biscuit; similar rewards follow for other sounds. Incorrect or meaningless words, however, are not reinforced and tend to fade from the child's vocabulary. This process helps improve their language skills over time.

This type of responsive speech is also evident in non-literate societies, where parents use higher pitch, short sentences, and simple grammar—techniques favored by behaviorists. Words linked to strong emotions, like "bee" after a sting, are often reinforced and remembered, as are swear words, due to their emotional connections.

Imitation in Language Learning

Learning theorists argue that children learn language by imitating adults. Since children naturally mimic adult behavior, this includes language. Parents serve as role models by not only providing words for the child to mimic but also expanding upon their speech, facilitating language development.