Final answer:
Children learn language through an innate mechanism known as the language acquisition device (LAD), as proposed by Noam Chomsky.
Step-by-step explanation:
Renowned linguist Noam Chomsky proposed that children have an innate capacity for language learning, disputing behaviorist B. F. Skinner's reinforcement theory. According to Chomsky, this innate mechanism, termed the language acquisition device (LAD), equips children with the ability to learn language. Contrary to Skinner's idea that language is purely learned through feedback and reinforcement, Chomsky emphasized that children are predisposed biologically to acquire language. This process is so robust that it transcends cultural and social backgrounds, revealing a universal pattern in language learning among children worldwide. Despite the debate, present-day researchers agree that language development is influenced by both innate biological factors and environmental interactions.
Indeed, children begin to absorb and engage with language at a very young age, progressing through various stages of language acquisition simply by being immersed in an environment where language is spoken or signed. This is underscored by the remarkable ability of human brains, especially in young children, to learn complex language systems with relative ease. Researchers have found that there is a critical period during early childhood when acquiring a new language is most natural, with the proficiency for learning new languages declining as one gets older.