On Child Language Acquisition: Theoretical Basis for Language Development

On Child Language Acquisition: Theoretical Basis for Language Development

This paper investigates the nature of language, language acquisition, and the developmental process from a nativist perspective, a leading approach in understanding human language acquisition through the lens of the Language Acquisition Device (LAD), a fundamental component of Generative Grammar theory. The primary focus is on analyzing syntactic errors resulting from imperfections in the language structures observed in children acquiring their native language. To address this issue, the study explores the Underspecification Model within the framework of minimalist theory. This model provides insights into how imperfections in the LAD can lead to consistent patterns of syntactic errors during the acquisition process. By applying this theoretical framework, the paper provides a detailed understanding of the underlying mechanisms and clarifies their role in shaping the overall process of language development in children.