Language Acquisition Device

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A hypothetical innate module in the human brain that is believed to facilitate language learning, first proposed by Noam Chomsky.

Critical period hypothesis: The theory that there is a specific window of time during which language acquisition is most effective, and that after this period, it becomes more difficult to learn a language.
Chomsky's theory of universal grammar: The idea that all humans have an innate ability to acquire language due to a universal grammar, a set of rules and structures shared among all languages.
Cognitive development theory: The idea that language acquisition is a natural part of a child's cognitive development process, and that children acquire language as they develop cognitively.
Behavioral learning theory: The notion that language is learned through exposure to language and reinforcement of correct language use.
Nature vs. nurture debate: The ongoing debate about whether language acquisition is mainly the result of innate predispositions (nature) or environmental factors (nurture).
Phonology: The study of the sound system of a language and how sounds are organized to form words.
Syntax: The study of sentence structure and grammar rules.
Semantics: The study of meaning in language and how words are connected to specific meanings.
Pragmatics: The study of how language is used in social contexts and the ways in which context influences meaning.
Second language acquisition: The process by which a person acquires a second (or third or more) language, typically after their first language has already been established in childhood.
Behaviorist Theory of Language Acquisition: This theory suggests that language is acquired through imitation, reinforcement, and conditioning.
Constructivist Theory of Language Acquisition: This theory proposes that children actively construct their own understanding of language through participation in language interactions.
Innatist Theory of Language Acquisition: This theory believes that humans are born with an innate ability for language acquisition, and this ability is facilitated by the Language Acquisition Device (LAD) present in the brain.
Cognitive Theory of Language Acquisition: This theory argues that cognition is fundamental to language acquisition, and language acquisition is a result of a complex cognitive development.
Social Interactionist Theory of Language Acquisition: This theory emphasizes the role of social interaction and communication in language acquisition. It states that children learn language by interacting with others.
Information Processing Theory of Language Acquisition: This theory emphasizes the importance of memory, attention, and perception in language acquisition. It suggests that children use these cognitive systems to process linguistic input.
"The Language Acquisition Device (LAD) is a claim from language acquisition research proposed by Noam Chomsky in the 1960s."
"The LAD concept is a purported instinctive mental capacity which enables an infant to acquire and produce language."
"It is a component of the nativist theory of language."
"This theory asserts that humans are born with the instinct or 'innate facility' for acquiring language."
"The main argument given in favor of the LAD was the argument from the poverty of the stimulus, which argues that unless children have significant innate knowledge of grammar, they would not be able to learn language as quickly as they do."
"The poverty of the stimulus argues that unless children have significant innate knowledge of grammar, they would not be able to learn language as quickly as they do, given that they never have access to negative evidence and rarely receive direct instruction in their first language."
"A summary explaining LAD by Chomsky states that languages are infinite pertaining to the sequence of word forms (strings) and grammar."
"These word forms organize grammatically correct sequences of words that can be pooled over a limited lexicon of each independent language."
"So, LAD is tasked to select from an infinite number of grammars the one which is correct for the language that is presented to an individual, for example, a child."
"The Language Acquisition Device (LAD) is a claim from language acquisition research proposed by Noam Chomsky in the 1960s."
"The LAD concept is a purported instinctive mental capacity which enables an infant to acquire and produce language."
"It is a component of the nativist theory of language."
"This theory asserts that humans are born with the instinct or 'innate facility' for acquiring language."
"The main argument given in favor of the LAD was the argument from the poverty of the stimulus, which argues that unless children have significant innate knowledge of grammar, they would not be able to learn language as quickly as they do."
"...given that they never have access to negative evidence and rarely receive direct instruction in their first language."
"A summary explaining LAD by Chomsky states that languages are infinite pertaining to the sequence of word forms (strings) and grammar."
"These word forms organize grammatically correct sequences of words that can be pooled over a limited lexicon of each independent language."
"So, LAD is tasked to select from an infinite number of grammars the one which is correct for the language that is presented to an individual, for example, a child."
"The Language Acquisition Device (LAD) is a claim from language acquisition research proposed by Noam Chomsky in the 1960s."
"The Language Acquisition Device (LAD) is a claim from language acquisition research proposed by Noam Chomsky in the 1960s."