Nativist Theory

The Nativist Theory suggests language development as an intrinsic part of being human. Where behaviorism emphasizes language as something that must be learned through nurturing and positive feedback, the Nativist Theory emphasizes language development as an inherent part of human nature.

According to Noam Chomsky (1969), who developed the Nativist Theory, we are all born with a "language acquisition device." Everything we need to develop language is within us. In other words, it's the hardware that allows us to develop language rather than the input (Vukelich, Christie, & Inz, 2002). This raises some questions that are difficult to answer. For example, if we are all born with a language acquisition device then, according to the Nativist Theory, we should develop language at the same time and pace throughout development.

Why do some children have developmental delays in their ability to grasp basic language skills and some never develop language?