Correct Answer - Option 4 : Vygotsky
Lev Vygotsky was a Russian psychologist and a social constructivist. He has propounded 'Socio-cultural Theory' which emphasizes the role of social interaction in cognitive development.
Lev Vygotsky emphasized that the acquisition of speech is the major activity in cognitive development. He believed that cognitive skills and patterns of thinking are the product of the interaction between the individual and the socio-cultural institution where the individual grows up.
Vygotsky's view on 'Language and Thought':
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Private speech gives direction to children.
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Language is essential for cognitive development.
- Language plays a powerful role in shaping individuals' thoughts.
- By acquiring language, the child modifies its higher mental functions.
- In the initial stage, thought & language are independent but merge at around three years of age.
Hence, it could be concluded that according to Vygotsky, language plays a crucial role in the development of cognitive ability.
In his "Socio-cultural Theory", Vygotsky also proposed three stages of language that a child progresses while developing language functions.
These stages are:
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Social speech
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It refers to the external communication to talk with other people.
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Egocentric speech
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It refers to internal communication by which children direct themselves. It is a mechanism to turn shared knowledge into personal knowledge.
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Inner speech
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It arose when private speech goes underground and is transformed into silent inner speech.
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