Language acquisition device

Definition

The language acquisition device (LAD) is a theoretical construct that suggests humans are born with an innate ability to acquire language. This concept implies that children have a mental mechanism that enables them to quickly learn the rules of their native language, facilitating the process of language development. The LAD is crucial in understanding how children can master complex grammatical structures with minimal instruction, highlighting the interplay between biology and language learning.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The concept of the language acquisition device was introduced by linguist Noam Chomsky in the 1960s as part of his argument against behaviorist theories of language learning.
2. LAD suggests that while exposure to language is necessary, children have an innate capacity to understand complex grammatical principles without explicit teaching.
3. Research indicates that children can produce and comprehend sentences they have never heard before, supporting the idea of an internal mechanism for language processing.
4. The LAD operates during a critical period in early childhood when children are particularly receptive to language input and can learn languages more effortlessly.
5. Studies on feral children and second-language learners illustrate the limitations of language acquisition outside the optimal age range, reinforcing the role of the LAD.

Review Questions

• How does the concept of the language acquisition device challenge behaviorist theories of language learning?
  • The language acquisition device contradicts behaviorist theories, which suggest that language learning occurs solely through imitation and reinforcement. Instead, LAD posits that humans are biologically equipped with an innate mechanism for understanding language rules. This innate ability allows children to generate sentences they've never heard before, indicating that they are not merely mimicking but actively using an internalized framework for language acquisition.
• Discuss how the critical period hypothesis relates to the functionality of the language acquisition device in children's language learning.
  • The critical period hypothesis aligns with the idea of the language acquisition device by suggesting that there is a specific timeframe in early childhood when children can best utilize their innate linguistic abilities. During this critical period, children's exposure to language greatly influences their ability to acquire it naturally and fluently. If language exposure occurs after this period, the effectiveness of the LAD diminishes, making it much harder for individuals to achieve native-like proficiency.
• Evaluate how nativism and the concept of a language acquisition device contribute to our understanding of cognitive development in relation to other forms of learning.
  • Nativism and the concept of the language acquisition device enhance our understanding of cognitive development by emphasizing that certain capabilities are biologically predetermined. This perspective suggests that while environmental factors influence learning, there are innate mechanisms specifically designed for linguistic tasks. Evaluating these ideas alongside other forms of learning highlights a broader debate about nature versus nurture in cognitive development, illustrating that different domains may involve distinct processes shaped by both genetic predispositions and experiential factors.

Related terms

Universal Grammar: A theory proposed by Noam Chomsky, which suggests that all human languages share a common underlying structure, allowing for the innate capacity for language learning.

Critical Period Hypothesis: A theory stating that there is an optimal window in early childhood during which language acquisition occurs most easily and beyond which it becomes significantly more difficult.

Nativism: The belief that certain skills or abilities are hardwired into the brain at birth, particularly in the context of language development.