Noam Chomsky emphasized that children's ability to pick up language so readily resulted from
A) their ability to imitate the words and grammar modeled by their parents.
B) the reinforcement that adults give children for speaking correctly.
C) their very short critical period.
D) their built-in predisposition to learn grammar rules.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Noam Chomsky's theory of language acquisition emphasized that children have a built-in predisposition to learn grammar rules. He argued that children are born with an innate language acquisition device that allows them to recognize and internalize the grammar of their native language without explicit instruction or correction from adults. This theory suggests that language learning is a natural and automatic process that is largely independent of external factors such as imitation or reinforcement.

Noam Chomsky Emphasized That Children's Ability to Pick Up Language