Final answer:
Language development is a critical part of early cognitive development, involving both learned and biologically predisposed elements. Children use language to form schema, engage in thought processes, and effectively communicate. This process begins very early in life, with infants showing an innate readiness to acquire language.
Step-by-step explanation:
Human language development is a sophisticated process that begins at a very young age and is characterized by the capability to use language to express both concrete and abstract concepts. Theories about language development, including those offered by B.F. Skinner and Noam Chomsky, describe the role of reinforcement and an innate biological predisposition in the process of language learning. Children's ability to understand and manipulate language is linked to their cognitive development, allowing them to form schema and engage in processes such as assimilation and accommodation as they interact with their environment.
The relationship between language and thought, as proposed by linguistic researchers like Whorf, suggests that the structure of language one speaks can influence one's perception of the world. Moreover, early exposure and the innate readiness to learn language are critical components for effective language acquisition during early childhood when the mind is most receptive to learning new languages. Even before the formal learning process begins, infants have an ability to recognize their mother's voice and distinguish between the languages spoken around them, laying the groundwork for future communication skills.