Chomsky Flashcards
What did he believe language was?
Uniquely human
What did he think happened to children all over the world?
They go through similar stages
What is the critical period for a child to acquire language?
Up to 7
How did he believe language was innate?
In built through LAD (language acquisition device)
Who did Chomsky criticise and why?
Skinner
He believed language language was creative and children have an in built ability to acquire language
Cannot imitate saying runned instead of ran
What kind of theory did he propose?
Nativist
What is the LAD?
Language acquisition device
Everyone is programmed with some biological code which is innate and allows everyone to learn language
Programmed with universal grammar
Evidence for Chomsky’s theory
Can be applied to any language
Bickerton’s theory of pidgination and creolisation
Pidgin = a simple form of a language which speakers of a different language use to communicate. Pidgin is not anyone’s first language
A creole is a language that has developed from a mixture of different languages and has become the main language in a particular place.
Proves language is innate as grammar comes into the new language
Criticism of Chomsky’s theory
Doesn’t take into account environment
Genie case:
Locked in environment where no one allowed to speak to her and she wasn’t allowed to speak to them. When she escaped she struggled with simplest words
