Innate Ability

Definition

Innate ability refers to a natural, inborn capacity or talent that an individual possesses from birth. In the context of language acquisition, it suggests that children have an inherent and instinctive capability to learn language.

Related terms

Critical Period: The critical period is a specific time window during development when language acquisition is most likely to occur easily and optimally.

Universal Grammar: Universal grammar is the theory that proposes that humans are born with a set of grammatical rules and structures that are common across all languages.

Language Acquisition Device (LAD): The Language Acquisition Device is a hypothetical mental structure proposed by Noam Chomsky which enables children to acquire language rapidly and efficiently.