According to Skinner, how is language controlled?

Skinner's analysis of language focuses on the role of environmental stimuli and reinforcement in the acquisition and use of language. He proposed that language is learned through a process of operant conditioning, where verbal behavior is shaped and maintained through reinforcement. This means that when a child uses language and receives positive feedback or reinforcement from their environment (such as praise, attention, or desired outcomes), they are more likely to continue using that language.

Environmental stimuli play a crucial role in this process, as they can trigger specific verbal responses. For example, if a child says "cookie" and receives a cookie as a reward, the child learns to associate the word with the object through reinforcement. Thus, language development is seen as a function of interactions with the environment, guided by the principles of behaviorism that Skinner championed.

Other choices emphasize innate processes, social interaction, and cognitive development, but these do not align with Skinner's behaviorist perspective, which prioritizes the impact of reinforcement and environmental factors over intrinsic or cognitive influences.