Final answer:
The fact that young children can generate sentences they haven't heard before suggests that they have an innate capacity to learn language, supported by Chomsky's concept of a Language Acquisition Device (LAD).
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Noam Chomsky, the fact that young children generate all sorts of sentences that they have never heard before suggests that humans have an innate capacity for language acquisition. Chomsky proposed that this innate capacity comes from a biological mechanism he called the Language Acquisition Device (LAD). This concept challenges behaviorist theories, such as B.F. Skinner's idea that language is learned solely through reinforcement and feedback. Instead, Chomsky's view, which has been largely supported by modern research, indicates that while reinforcement plays a role, language development is also significantly influenced by inborn biological predispositions. The astounding ability of children to master the complex rules of language at a young age, often without formal instruction, and even to create new sentences, highlights the presence of an innate language faculty.