Theories on Language Learning and Development
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Nativist Language Development
Language development, according to the nativist theory, is driven by an innate learning device.
The development in language is a rapid learning process that begins at birth. Children learn quickly how to communicate their wants and needs first through cries and coos, then to more complex sounds. By age 5, a child's vocabulary has increased tremendously and communication is performed with ease. The process of how language develops has been studied since the beginning of child development and many theories have been proposed, one of which is the nativist language development theory.
Origins of the Nativist Theory of Language Development
Noam Chomsky was the first to propose the nativist theory. He argued that the long-held learning theory of language development did not adequately explain how children were able to develop and master the complex language system in such a comparatively short time frame. Chomsky proposed that learning language was assisted by nature and that humans are born prepared to learn language.
Language is Innate
Chomsky based his theory on language being an innate capability of humans, something that humans were born to do by nature's design. This idea of language being an innate capability of humans has its foundations in that despite cultural differences, all humans develop some form of language skills and it is done with remarkable consistency in terms of the milestones of development. This implies that language development is not reliant on a particular way of teaching children to speak, which does vary from culture to culture.
Language Acuisition Device (LAD)
Chomsky furthered his theory by proposing the existence of the language acquisition device, a brain mechanism that is specialised in detecting and learning the rules of language. The LAD is an inherited or innate part of the brain that is activated when language is heard.
Nativist Language Development
Language development, according to the nativist theory, is driven by an innate learning device.
The development in language is a rapid learning process that begins at birth. Children learn quickly how to communicate their wants and needs first through cries and coos, then to more complex sounds. By age 5, a child's vocabulary has increased tremendously and communication is performed with ease. The process of how language develops has been studied since the beginning of child development and many theories have been proposed, one of which is the nativist language development theory.
Origins of the Nativist Theory of Language Development
Noam Chomsky was the first to propose the nativist theory. He argued that the long-held learning theory of language development did not adequately explain how children were able to develop and master the complex language system in such a comparatively short time frame. Chomsky proposed that learning language was assisted by nature and that humans are born prepared to learn language.
Language is Innate
Chomsky based his theory on language being an innate capability of humans, something that humans were born to do by nature's design. This idea of language being an innate capability of humans has its foundations in that despite cultural differences, all humans develop some form of language skills and it is done with remarkable consistency in terms of the milestones of development. This implies that language development is not reliant on a particular way of teaching children to speak, which does vary from culture to culture.
Language Acuisition Device (LAD)
Chomsky furthered his theory by proposing the existence of the language acquisition device, a brain mechanism that is specialised in detecting and learning the rules of language. The LAD is an inherited or innate part of the brain that is activated when language is heard.