Linguistic Sources of Skinner's 'Verbal Behavior'

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Linguistic Sources of Skinner's 'Verbal Behavior'
Language: English
Authors: Matos, Maria Amelia, Passos, Maria de Lourdes R. da F.
Source: Behavior Analyst. Spr 2006 29(1):89-107.
Availability: Association for Behavior Analysis International. 1219 South Park Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49001. Tel: 269-492-9310; Fax: 269-492-9316; e-mail: mail@abainternational.org; Web site: http://www.abainternational.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 19
Publication Date: 2006
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Evaluative
Descriptors: Verbal Stimuli, Traditional Grammar, Structural Linguistics, Interdisciplinary Approach, Verbal Communication, Behavior, Responses, Reinforcement
ISSN: 0738-6729
Abstract: Formal and functional analyses of verbal behavior have been often considered to be divergent and incompatible. Yet, an examination of the history of part of the analytical approach used in "Verbal Behavior" (Skinner, 1957/1992) for the identification and conceptualization of verbal operant units discloses that it corresponds well with formal analyses of languages. Formal analyses have been carried out since the invention of writing and fall within the scope of traditional grammar and structural linguistics, particularly in analyses made by the linguist Leonard Bloomfield. The relevance of analytical instruments originated from linguistic studies (which examine and describe the practices of verbal communities) to the analysis of verbal behavior, as proposed by Skinner, relates to the conception of a verbal community as a prerequisite for the acquisition of verbal behavior. A deliberately interdisciplinary approach is advocated in this paper, with the systematic adoption of linguistic analyses and descriptions adding relevant knowledge to the design of experimental research in verbal behavior.
Abstractor: Author
Number of References: 78
Entry Date: 2007
Access URL: https://www.abainternational.org/Journals/view.asp?table=TBA&id=771
Accession Number: EJ752390
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Formal and functional analyses of verbal behavior have been often considered to be divergent and incompatible. Yet, an examination of the history of part of the analytical approach used in "Verbal Behavior" (Skinner, 1957/1992) for the identification and conceptualization of verbal operant units discloses that it corresponds well with formal analyses of languages. Formal analyses have been carried out since the invention of writing and fall within the scope of traditional grammar and structural linguistics, particularly in analyses made by the linguist Leonard Bloomfield. The relevance of analytical instruments originated from linguistic studies (which examine and describe the practices of verbal communities) to the analysis of verbal behavior, as proposed by Skinner, relates to the conception of a verbal community as a prerequisite for the acquisition of verbal behavior. A deliberately interdisciplinary approach is advocated in this paper, with the systematic adoption of linguistic analyses and descriptions adding relevant knowledge to the design of experimental research in verbal behavior.
ISSN:0738-6729