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Why does linguist Noam Chomsky argue for an inbuilt device for language acquisition?

a. Environmental exposure is the sole factor in language acquisition.
b. Children are naturally predisposed to imitate adult speech.
c. The complexity of language cannot be learned through reinforcement alone.
d. The brain is not capable of acquiring language skills.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Chomsky posits that language acquisition is facilitated by a Language Acquisition Device (LAD), arguing that the complexity of language requires innate biological faculties, not just environmental reinforcement. Research supports the notion that both nature and nurture play a role in language development, with a biological predisposition complemented by cultural and societal influences.

Step-by-step explanation:

Noam Chomsky argues for an inbuilt device for language acquisition because c. The complexity of language cannot be learned through reinforcement alone. Behaviorist B.F. Skinner suggested that language is acquired through environmental responses and reinforcement, such as parental approval or feedback. However, Chomsky proposed an alternative idea that humans possess a biologically determined Language Acquisition Device (LAD) that facilitates the learning of language, a process too intricate to be solely attributed to environmental factors. Studies have shown that language acquisition appears innate, following a similar pattern regardless of cultural or environmental variations, and there is evidence for a critical period of language learning that occurs early in life.

Language acquisition occurs naturally during the early stages of life and is based on both biological predispositions and environmental factors. As humans, our common anatomy and cognitive abilities predispose us to acquire language, which is then shaped by the cultural and societal surroundings.

Understanding this complexity and how children master languages sheds light on the interplay between nature and nurture in the development of language skills. The human brain's predisposition for language, coupled with environmental exposure and cultural immersion, indicates that our capacity for language is indeed a product of both inherent biological features and the linguistic environment.

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