Language explained in terms of Learning Theory
1. Behavioral Theories were among the earlier approaches attempting to define the mechanisms of language development. Language was classified as a skill to be learned.
Hence, Learning Theory was the focus, and classical conditioning was the central mechanism, featuring a stimulus-response paradigm.
Perhaps the most well known behavioral theory was an off-shoot of this, Operant Conditioning developed by B. F. Skinner.
He emphasized the reinforcement of verbal behaviors to shape random vocalizations into speech. Explanations were couched only in observable and measurable terms.
These included verbal actions (responses) co-occurring with rewards (stimuli). The basic unit of language was considered to be the "functional unit," and not words or sentences.