What language development theory emphasizes that language is first learned by imitating adults?

The learning approach is centered on the idea that language acquisition occurs primarily through imitation and reinforcement. According to this theory, children learn to speak by mimicking the language patterns and phrases used by adults and others around them. As they hear words and phrases in context, they replicate these sounds and structures, gradually mastering their use through practice and repetition. This perspective highlights the critical role of social interactions and modeling in language development, suggesting that children learn language in much the same way they learn other behaviors—through observation and copying.

In contrast, the cognitive approach emphasizes the mental processes involved in learning and how children use their cognitive abilities to understand and generate language. The linguistic approach focuses on the inherent structures of language and suggests that children are born with a predisposition to learn language, emphasizing innate grammar rules. The sociocognitive approach combines elements of social interaction and cognitive processes but does not specifically prioritize imitation in the way the learning approach does. Thus, the learning approach most directly aligns with the concept of language acquisition through imitation of adults.