Linguistic Theory was formed by → Noam Chomsky who described language as having a grammar that is largely independent of language use. Unlike → Behavioral Theory, → Linguistic Theory argues that → language acquisition is governed by universal, underlying → grammatical rules that are common to all typically developing humans.
Across many different cultures, there are a number of linguistic developmental similarities. Chomsky argues that these similarities are due to the presence of an innate language-acquisition mechanism housed in the brain called the → Language Acquisition Device (LAD). According to Chomsky, the LAD is a specialized language processor that contains universal underlying → linguistic principles that provide children with the innate knowledge to speak and learn language. Environment only serves to activate the maturation of the LAD. Chomsky believed that the only humans were born with the LAD and believed that language was species specific and unique to humans.
