Innateness hypothesis
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British pronunciation/ɪnnˈeɪtnəs haɪpˈɒθəsˌɪs/
American pronunciation/ɪnnˈeɪtnəs haɪpˈɑːθəsˌɪs/

Definition & Meaning of "innateness hypothesis"

Innateness hypothesis
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a prominent theory in the field of language acquisition, which argues that humans possess a genetically predetermined capacity for acquiring and developing language

What is "innateness hypothesis"?

The innateness hypothesis is a theory in linguistics and cognitive science that suggests humans are born with an inherent ability to acquire language. Proposed by Noam Chomsky, this hypothesis proposes that children possess a natural capacity for understanding the rules of language, which is not solely based on environmental input. According to this theory, there exists a universal grammar, a set of principles shared by all languages, that guides language development. The innateness hypothesis argues that this biological predisposition enables children to learn complex grammatical structures quickly and efficiently, providing insights into the relationship between language, cognition, and human development.

innateness hypothesis

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