Question

Who explained that language develops in the child in the sequence : social speech, private speech, inner speech ?

• A. Sigmund Freud
• B. Piaget
• C. Vygotsky
• D. Ralph Schuls

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Vygotsky

Lev Vygotsky's Theory of Language Development

• Lev Vygotsky, a Russian psychologist, proposed the sociocultural theory of cognitive development, which highlights the crucial role of social interaction in learning.
• He identified three distinct stages through which language evolves in children: Social Speech, Private Speech, and Inner Speech.
• Social Speech (External Speech): Occurs around age 2; children use language primarily to control the behavior of others or express simple needs and emotions.
• Private Speech (Egocentric Speech): Occurs around age 3; children talk aloud to themselves to guide their own thinking and self-regulate behavior, functioning as a bridge between social and inner speech.
• Inner Speech: Develops around age 7; language becomes internalized as silent thought, allowing the individual to plan, solve problems, and reflect without external vocalization.
• Vygotsky's view contrasts significantly with Jean Piaget, who argued that speech starts as egocentric and gradually becomes socialized as the child matures.
• Key concepts associated with Vygotsky include the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), which defines the gap between what a learner can do independently and what they can achieve with guidance from a 'More Knowledgeable Other' (MKO).
• Vygotsky emphasized that language and thought are initially separate functions that merge around age 3, transforming the nature of cognitive activity.