What does the social interactionist model emphasize in language development?

The social interactionist model emphasizes the critical role of the relationship between the newborn and their caregivers in language development. This model posits that language acquisition is rooted in social interactions and that meaningful communication is facilitated through these relationships. Caregivers provide essential language input while engaging with infants, which fosters a rich linguistic environment. The interactions often involve shared activities and reciprocal exchanges that help infants understand the structure and function of language. Through this process, children learn to communicate effectively by observing and participating in dialogues within their social context, significantly shaping their linguistic skills.

In contrast, while relationships with peers, genetics, and formal education all contribute to language development to varying degrees, they do not capture the primary focus of the social interactionist approach, which is centered on the foundational bond and interactive experiences between the infant and caregiver.