Chomsky viewed language acquisition in children as being the result of:
A) an innate language acquisition device.
B) reinforcement by adults of correct language production.
C) utilitarian learning, in which children learn that correct language produces desirable results.
D) classical conditioning of innate utterances produced by infants and young children.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Chomsky's theory of language acquisition in children is based on the idea of an innate language acquisition device, which allows children to acquire language rapidly and effortlessly. According to Chomsky, children are born with an inborn ability to understand the structure of language, and this ability enables them to learn the rules of any language they are exposed to. Chomsky believed that children's brains are pre-wired with a set of universal grammar rules that allow them to recognize the rules of any language they hear. Unlike behaviorist theories of language acquisition, which emphasize reinforcement and conditioning, Chomsky's theory emphasizes the role of innate cognitive structures in language learning.

Chomsky Viewed Language Acquisition in Children as Being the Result