Who proposed the nativist theory of language development?

The nativist theory of language development was proposed by Noam Chomsky, who argued that the ability to acquire language is inherent to humans and that we are born with an innate capacity for language. This theory posits that there is a universal grammar shared across languages, which suggests that children are equipped with a set of linguistic rules or principles that guide their learning of any language they are exposed to. Chomsky introduced concepts such as the "language acquisition device," a hypothetical module in the brain that facilitates the learning of language structures without needing explicit teaching or reinforcement.

In contrast, B.F. Skinner is known for his behaviorist approach, suggesting that language is learned through operant conditioning, where reinforcement and imitation play significant roles. Jean Piaget focused on cognitive development and how children's understanding evolves through stages, while Lev Vygotsky emphasized the social aspects of learning and the importance of cultural context. However, neither Piaget nor Vygotsky presented a theory that serves as a foundation for the nativist perspective on language development as proposed by Chomsky.