CLA: Nativism

Question 1

Nativism

Answer 1

Argue there is some form of inbuilt language learning device

Question 2

Chomsky

Answer 2

• Argues that caregivers don’t provide a good enough source of language, calling this poverty of stimulus.
• Instead, he argues that children have a language acquisition device in their brains which helps them acquire language and grammar.
• Universal grammar – all language possesses similar grammatical traits which the brain is hardwired to pick up.
• Children make virtuous errors when the use their LAD to apply grammar incorrectly.

Question 3

Jean Berko’s ‘Wug’ test

Answer 3

• Tested the notion that children have a more sophisticated understanding of linguistic morphology then they have been explicitly taught.
• 76% of 4 and 5 year olds responded correctly that the plural of “wug” would be “wugs”.

Question 4

Case study of Genie

Answer 4

• Genie was a child who was abused until the age of 13, shut away, and deprived of human contact.
• Linguists worked with her but since she passed the critical period, she couldn’t learn language.
• This suggests that there must be some form of internal structure/LAD because the caregivers were unable to help Genie acquire language
• Nature/nurture debate and critical period theorists.
• However, Genie was traumatised and that could explain her lack of communication skills.

Question 5

Nativism Theorists

(2)

Answer 5

• Chomsky
• Jean Berko