Which theory suggests language development is tied to general cognitive development and grows from language use?

Which theory suggests language development is tied to general cognitive development and grows from language use?

• A. Cognitive-developmentalist theory of LA
• B. Universal Grammar
• C. The Silent Way
• D. The Natural Approach

Answer: (A)

Language development tied to general cognitive development and growing from language use reflects a cognitive-developmental view of SLA. This perspective holds that learners’ thinking skills—perception, memory, problem-solving, and categorization—develop over time, and language emerges in step with those cognitive changes. When learners engage in meaningful tasks and use language to think through problems, their linguistic abilities expand. In this view, language growth isn’t just about memorizing forms or receiving input; it unfolds as overall cognition develops and is exercised through real language use. Universal Grammar posits an innate, language-specific knowledge that guides acquisition regardless of general cognitive development, so it doesn’t align with the idea that language grows from cognitive development and use. The Silent Way and The Natural Approach are teaching methods rather than underlying theories about how language develops, so they don’t claim that language growth is driven by general cognitive development in the same way.

Language development tied to general cognitive development and growing from language use reflects a cognitive-developmental view of SLA. This perspective holds that learners’ thinking skills—perception, memory, problem-solving, and categorization—develop over time, and language emerges in step with those cognitive changes. When learners engage in meaningful tasks and use language to think through problems, their linguistic abilities expand. In this view, language growth isn’t just about memorizing forms or receiving input; it unfolds as overall cognition develops and is exercised through real language use.

Universal Grammar posits an innate, language-specific knowledge that guides acquisition regardless of general cognitive development, so it doesn’t align with the idea that language grows from cognitive development and use. The Silent Way and The Natural Approach are teaching methods rather than underlying theories about how language develops, so they don’t claim that language growth is driven by general cognitive development in the same way.