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Noam Chomsky, a famous linguist, proposed that language is innate. Which of the following is consistent with this proposal?

A. The capacity for language develops during the critical language period.
B. Humans are universally capable of acquiring any language.
C. Universal grammar is a feature of all languages.
D. All of the above
E. None of the above

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Noam Chomsky's proposal that language is innate is consistent with all the provided options: the development of language capacity during the critical period, the universal capability to acquire any language, and the feature of Universal Grammar in all languages.

Step-by-step explanation:

Noam Chomsky, a renowned linguist, proposed that the ability to acquire language is innate in humans. Following this proposal:

  • The capacity for language develops during a critical language period.
  • Humans are universally capable of acquiring any language.
  • Universal grammar is a feature of all languages.

Therefore, the answer that is consistent with Chomsky's proposal is D. All of the above options are consistent with Chomsky's views on language acquisition. The concept of Universal Grammar suggests that there is a set of structural rules inherent to all languages, and the critical period for language acquisition highlights a time frame during early childhood when the ability to learn a language is maximized. Moreover, given the biological predisposition to acquire language, humans have the capability to learn any language which they are exposed to during this period.

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