One key aspect of Chomsky’s theory of language is the following:
Because Chomsky views language as largely innate, delayed development of language is often viewed as red flag to parents. Early on, children often make normal grammatical errors in language by either conjugating verbs inaccurately or using prepositions erroneously. However, children continue to monitor and revise language based on feedback, listening, and practice.
Based on Chomsky’s theory, would it matter if children were rarely spoken to directly or were embedded in a linguistically impoverished environment? How might their language develop similarly or differently? What real life instances exist that test this question? What revisions to Chomsky’s theory might you suggest based on what Hart and Risley (1995) findings regarding children’s exposure to language at home and its correlation with later intelligence?
