Which statement aligns with nativist perspectives on language acquisition?

Which statement aligns with nativist perspectives on language acquisition?

• A. Language is learned only through explicit teaching.
• B. Language acquisition is driven purely by imitation.
• C. Children are born with innate grammatical knowledge.
• D. Social feedback is the sole driver of language development.

Answer: (C)

Nativist theory holds that children are born with an innate set of grammatical principles, often thought of as Universal Grammar, that guide how language works. This built‑in knowledge helps kids rapidly acquire complex grammar from the language they hear and even produce sentences they haven’t heard before, which shows grammar isn’t just something learned by imitation or explicit instruction. That’s why the statement about being born with innate grammatical knowledge best reflects the nativist view. The other ideas—language learned only through explicit teaching, language development driven purely by imitation, or social feedback alone driving development—don’t capture the idea of an internal, prewired system that organizes and constrains language learning.

Nativist theory holds that children are born with an innate set of grammatical principles, often thought of as Universal Grammar, that guide how language works. This built‑in knowledge helps kids rapidly acquire complex grammar from the language they hear and even produce sentences they haven’t heard before, which shows grammar isn’t just something learned by imitation or explicit instruction. That’s why the statement about being born with innate grammatical knowledge best reflects the nativist view.

The other ideas—language learned only through explicit teaching, language development driven purely by imitation, or social feedback alone driving development—don’t capture the idea of an internal, prewired system that organizes and constrains language learning.