Question

which of the following is not consistent with the idea of a grammar instinct? group of answer choices creole languages with structured grammar develop from children raised in an area using a pidgin language. the piraha people of south america use a language that seems to have many structural traits different from other known languages. children deprived of exposure to language during development have permanently impaired grammar as adults. language acquisition in children seems rapid and effortless given the poverty of the stimulus.

Answer 1

The idea of a grammar instinct is confirmed by the natural and rapid language acquisition in children and the emergence of structured grammars in creole languages from pidgin-speaking areas, alongside evidence of the critical period's significance for grammar development.

Step-by-step explanation:

The idea of a grammar instinct is consistent with the observations that children seem to acquire language rapidly and without much formal instruction, suggesting an innate capacity for language development. This is in line with Noam Chomsky's theory of a universal grammar and the concept of a language acquisition device (LAD) that we are born with. Additionally, creole languages that develop structured grammar from children raised in an area using a pidgin language exemplify how language structures can emerge naturally, reinforcing the idea of an innate grammar capability. The example of the Piraha people using a structurally unique language supports the diversity of linguistic expression within the human capacity for language, and the difficulties experienced by individuals deprived of language exposure during the critical period confirm the importance of this time frame for grammar development.

Answer 2

The option that is not consistent with the idea of a grammar instinct is "children deprived of exposure to language during development have permanently impaired grammar as adults." This statement suggests that without exposure to language during development, individuals will have permanently impaired grammar as adults.

However, research has shown that children who are deprived of exposure to language during development can still acquire language and develop grammatical skills later in life, although they may face challenges. This phenomenon is known as "late language emergence" or "late language acquisition."

For example, there have been cases of children who were raised in isolation or without access to language until later in life, yet were able to acquire language and develop grammatical skills after being exposed to language.

One famous case is that of Genie, a girl who was severely neglected and isolated for the first 13 years of her life. Despite this, she was able to learn language, although her grammatical skills were impaired compared to typical language learners.

Therefore, the statement that children deprived of exposure to language during development have permanently impaired grammar as adults is not consistent with the idea of a grammar instinct.

It is important to note that while early exposure to language is crucial for optimal language development, the brain has the capacity to learn and acquire language even after a period of deprivation.