Chomsky's critique of imitation and reinforcement in language learning aligns with which broader view?

• A. Behaviorist learning theory
• B. Cognitive learning theory
• C. Krashen's Monitor Model
• D. Interactionist

Answer: (B)

Language development hinges on internal mental processes, not just imitation and reinforcement. Chomsky argued that children aren’t simply copying what they hear or being rewarded for correct utterances; they actively infer and construct rules of language, often producing sentences they’ve never heard before. This points to an innate capacity and the importance of how the mind represents and processes linguistic knowledge.

That viewpoint fits cognitive learning theory best, which focuses on the learner’s internal representations, problem solving, and active construction of knowledge. It emphasizes what goes on in the mind as learners acquire language, beyond external stimuli and rewards.

Seeing it this way also helps you see why other broad views don’t fit as directly. Behaviorist theory centers on observable responses shaped by imitation and reinforcement, which Chomsky challenged. Krashen’s Monitor Model involves input, subliminal acquisition, and the learner’s conscious monitoring, which is related but not the same broad emphasis as cognitive theory. Interactionist ideas stress the role of social interaction, which is important too but still sits within a broader cognitive framework in how language is processed and learned.