The impact of imitation on language acquisition: A critical review

Abstract

This critical review investigates the impact of imitation on the language learning process in the developmental stages of infants and young children. From a general perspective, the review aims to figure out how children learn a new language at very early ages and whether the process of imitation brings negative or positive influences on children’s language acquisition. To do this, the investigation of four studies was reviewed. The research supportively gives out how children imitate their caregivers (especially their parents) in terms of achieving a language and the consequence of the imitation process psychologically affects the children.