First Language Acquisition - Literature review Example

s of language acquisition illustrate that imitation is not sufficient to understand first language and use it flawlessly within the short time that children manage to expend while learning it. According to Hauser (2000, p352) imitation is neither applicable in other primates in experimental learning of simple learning following instructions. This illustrates the complexity of language learning, a fact that underscores the structured nature of the process of first language acquisition in early childhood.

Another key fact witnessed in the process followed in early childhood during the acquisition of first language involves production of sounds by the baby, despite the fact that they never heard them before. Pardo, Piorkowski, Remez and Rubin (2001, p.25) observe that different qualities of sound require specialized production which cannot simply originate from imitated actions. The authors further enumerate the role of non-speech communication learnt by children as an important reference point that imitation must not take the whole concept of language acquisition, which is complex than that.

This fact underscores the high neurological involvement of the human learning process, best done during early stages of development. Involving language in this category of learning processes shows that communication is part of the innate social attributes that human beings possess, with language acting as a highly specialized indicator of high-end species organization (Chomsky, Fitch and Hauser 2002, p570). A different perspective on the facts of acquisition of language highlights the issue of competence and performance, where children demonstrate impeccable acquisition of understanding before practicing.

According to Chomsky (2000, p77) initial language usage does not necessarily correspond with understanding of issues, which could hinder communication. The author bases theories of competence on the principle that language is more of an expression of inner monologue among