Tomasello's usage-based approach
Michael Tomasello's theoretical approach emphasising that language acquisition is driven by children's ability to understand communicative intentions and learn from social interaction.
Real World
Tomasello's own research showed that nine-month-old infants follow an adult's gaze to share attention on an object — this 'joint attention' capacity is the foundation of understanding communicative intent before any words are spoken.
Exam Focus
Evaluate Tomasello against Chomsky by arguing general cognitive mechanisms replace the need for a specific LAD — a strong evaluative point for AO3.
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