Noam Chomsky's Theory of Language

Background on Noam Chomsky

• Who is Noam Chomsky?
  • American philosopher, theorist, cognitive scientist, and linguist.
  • Born in 1928; currently 86 years old.
  • Known for contributions to linguistics and political activism.

Chomsky's Theory of Language

• Cognitive Linguistics

  • Described as the study of the language faculty of the human mind.

• Key Concepts

  • Innate Language Ability
    • All children are born with the ability to learn any human language.
  • Language Acquisition Device (LAD)
    • An intrinsic device that encodes the principles and grammatical structure of a language into a child's brain.
  • Theory of Competence
    • Language theory should focus on competence.
    • Integration with other cognitive abilities and performance is possible once a full theory of competence is developed.

Factors in Chomsky's Theory

1. Optimal Learning Age
   • Ages 3 to 10 are ideal for language learning and achieving fluency.
2. Natural Language Acquisition
   • Children do not need explicit triggers to learn a language; it occurs naturally.
   • Simply being exposed to language enables learning.
3. Correction in Language Learning
   • Correction does not necessarily alter how children speak.

Personal Reflections on Chomsky's Theory

• Agreements
  • There is an optimal age for language learning.
  • Most children have an innate ability to learn language.
• Disagreements
  • Skeptical about the idea that children understand grammatical errors without instruction.
  • Belief that correction can have an impact, contrary to Chomsky's view.

Conclusion

• Noam Chomsky has significantly impacted the field of linguistics and language development theory.
• He supports the idea of a natural, innate ability in children to learn any human language.