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The Language Acquisition Device (LAD)

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The Language Acquisition Device (LAD) is a theorized concept of the organic brain to (in part or whole) function as a congenital device for learning and processing symbolic language

In your readings, did you find information about the LAD theory of language acquisition by Chomsky? How does this theory describe the process of language acquisition?

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Chomsky used the metaphor language acquisition device (or LAD), for children's innate knowledge of language.

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Chomsky used the metaphor language acquisition device (or LAD), for children's innate knowledge of language. According to Chomsky, what is acquired in language acquisition is not universal grammar (UG) itself. UG is already present at birth as part of the innate language faculty in every human being, although maturation and experience are required for the manifestation of this capacity. Child acquisition of language involves a process of selecting from among the limited parametric options in UG those that match the settings which are encountered in linguistic input. The way LAD works is by setting the language specific parameters when a certain language ...

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