1. The nativist theory
Noam Chomsky (1928—)

2. The main problem with behaviourist theory, according to Chomsky, was the ‘poverty of the input’

3. Adults do not usually speak in grammatically complete sentences.
The range of language which a child hears from adults is quite limited.
Adults do not usually speak in
grammatically complete sentences.
Got the keys?
On the table!

4. speed of children’s language development
Skinner’s theory cannot explain the
speed of children’s language development
I can see them!
Sammy get it!
Big doggie!
Juice!

5. The child has an unconscious and innate understanding …
S + V + O
S + V + C
… of language rules

6. S + V + O S + V + C S + V + O + A DOG
such as the fact that all languages have nouns and verbs
DOG
Or word order in sentences
S + V + O
S + V + C
S + V + O + A

7. Chomsky called these rules ‘linguistic universals’

8. Language Acquisition Device The LAD This innate ability to understand
language rules is the
Language
Acquisition
Device

9. triggers or activates the LAD.
‘Input’ from the outside world
triggers or activates the LAD.
The child’s innate knowledge
comes into action.

10. Look through the developments of the Child Language Handbook and for 3 things that Chomsky’s theory can explain.

11. + ing + s + ed The nativist theory explains the
speed of language development…
And how children learn inflections in the same order (Roger Brown, 1973)
+ ing
+ s
+ ed

12. Why children in the ‘telegraphic stage’ rarely make mistakes in word order
Annie play ball
Daddy is silly

13. the ‘wugs’ experiment shows that most children can pluralise made-up nouns
children also make ‘virtuous errors’
All the mens goed home.

14. These facts all show that children understand rules, and can use those rules in an ACTIVE way …
… rather than passively copying adults.

15. bababababa Evidence for Chomsky:
the babbling of deaf babies is exactly the same as that of hearing babies
bababababa

16. But Nativism can only be proven by the ‘forbidden experiment’
The best way to test Chomsky’s theory
would be to raise a child in complete
isolation.
Would this child
still be able to
acquire language?

17. The closest evidence are children who have grown up without any contact with adults –
feral children.

18. The case of Genie who was confined to her bedroom as a child
a problem for Chomsky’s theory because Genie never learned to use language normally.
If the ability to learn language is innate,
Genie should have acquired language like any other child.

19. This supports Eric Lenneberg’s ‘critical period’ hypothesis
if the LAD is not activated before puberty, language development will not be normal

20. deaf parents. Jim was the hearing child of
His parents used sign language, but wanted Jim to learn to speak.

21. They assumed that ‘input’ from other adults, TV and radio would enable him to learn.
But Jim’s language development was seriously
disturbed.

22. He began to learn more normally when
received help from a speech therapist.
This suggests that interaction with others is an important factor in language development