Language acquisition device (LAD) :

Children are great at learning new languages. They acquire language quickly and
seem to have a natural understanding of grammar and syntax. But how?

So in order to explain this phenomenon Chomsky proposed the language

acquisition device in 1960s , which is a theoretical framework that suggests
humans are born with an innate ability to acquire language. It is like having a built-
in language learning tool in our brains.
This device helps us understand and generate language, allowing us to learn and
use grammar rules without explicit instruction . He also stated that the lad is a
uniquely human trait and can not be found in animals which explains why it is only
humans that can communicate through language.

Universal grammar
The theory of universal grammar as proposed by Chomsky , posits that all human
languages share many of the same common grammar principles.For example, most
languages:

•Have certain nouns , adjectives

• Have a way of talking about the past and present tense
• Have a way of asking questions

According to this theory, the basic grammatical structures of language are already
encoded in the human brain at birth. It is a child’s environment that will determine
which language they will learn ( humans are born with an innate knowledge of the
basic principles and structures of language.)
Child only need to pick up the vocabulary.

So, let’s break down how the LAD supposedly works:

1. The child hears adult speech, which triggers the LAD.

2. The child automatically applies universal grammar to speech.

3. The child learns new vocabulary and applies the appropriate grammar rules.

4. The child is able to use the new language.

Example:
Children learn that when something happened in the past, we often add “-ed” to
the end of a word, like “played”. So, they might say “goed” instead of “went”
because they are trying to follow that pattern, even though “went” is the right
word. It is like they’re using a rule they learned, but sometimes it does not match
exactly.

Conclusion :
To sum up language acquisition device and universal grammar theories proposed
by Noam Chomsky have had a big impact on the field of linguistics. They have
influenced how we understand language learning and have sparked new ideas and
research .