Acquisition of language is

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:

Language acquisition, particularly in the context of first language learning or naturalistic second language learning, is widely viewed in behaviorist models as a process largely driven by habit formation. This theory posits that children, or learners, acquire language by imitating and repeating speech they hear, which is reinforced through positive responses and correction, gradually forming habits of correct usage. Over time, these repeated patterns—from forming sounds and words to constructing grammatically acceptable sentences—become automated or habitual, allowing for fluency. This approach emphasizes the role of environment and interaction, where constant exposure and practice lead to the internalized, unconscious routines that constitute language competence.

The incorrect option is 2:
Acquisition of language is not solely a laborious process. While conscious *learning* often requires effort and is systematic, *acquisition*—especially of the mother tongue—happens naturally and spontaneously, often without the learner feeling it to be laborious. Laborious typically describes formal study or intense memorization, which contrasts with the subconscious nature of true acquisition.

The incorrect option is 3:
It is factually incorrect to state that language acquisition is possible *only* in the classroom. The most powerful form of language acquisition happens outside the classroom, in natural, communicative settings, as evidenced by how every child acquires their first language at home. The classroom facilitates structured *learning*, but acquisition is primarily an environmental and social phenomenon.

The incorrect option is 4:
While memorization of vocabulary can *support* the learning of a language, acquisition itself is a much broader, more complex process involving the internalization of grammar, phonology, and pragmatic rules. Language acquisition is driven more by authentic communication and exposure than by rote memorization, which only addresses lexical components and does not guarantee the habitual command of the language structure.