Naom Chomsky Theory

• Language acquisition is the process by which humans acquire the capacity to perceive, comprehend, produce, and use words and sentences to communicate
• Language acquisition sets humans apart from other mammals, as non-humans do not communicate using language
• Language serves critical functions within the human experience, from safety to social engagement
• Linguists and psychologists have some disagreement about how language acquisition occurs
• The Language Acquisition Device (LAD) is a hypothetical module of the human mind posited to account for children's innate predisposition for language acquisition
• Noam Chomsky believes that humans are born with a predisposition to learn language
• Chomsky's theories of language acquisition state that human beings are pre-wired to learn language and are born with basic language rules intact
• Chomsky proposed the theory of universal grammar, the idea that language is innate, and the notion that language acquisition occurs during critical development stages
• Chomsky believed that the majority of human languages follow similar rules and patterns when it comes to grammar
• A Language Acquisition Device (LAD) is a hypothetical tool in the human brain that allows children to learn and understand language quickly
• Every child has a Language Acquisition Device (LAD) which is a structure in the brain that infants are born with to quickly learn and understand language
• Children all follow a broadly similar sequence in their development of language
• Criticism of Chomsky's theory includes: not enough scientific evidence, underestimation of social interaction importance, and lack of consideration for children with delayed language development
• Hearing impairment in children can affect their language development