The Innateness Hypothesis
* What it is: This hypothesis suggests that humans have an innate capacity for language acquisition. This means we are born with a "language acquisition device" (LAD) in our brains that helps us learn and understand language.
* Key ideas:
* Universal Grammar: All languages share fundamental underlying principles, which the LAD is programmed to recognize.
* Critical Period: There is a specific period in early childhood where language acquisition is most efficient. After this period, it becomes much harder to learn a language fluently.
Deaf Children and Sign Language
* Sign Language is a Real Language: It has its own grammar, syntax, and vocabulary, and is not simply a set of gestures.
* Fluent Signers: Deaf children who learn sign language from birth often become fluent signers, demonstrating sophisticated language abilities.
How They Connect
* Supporting Evidence: Deaf children's fluency in sign language provides evidence for the innateness hypothesis in several ways:
* Universal Grammar: Their ability to learn the complex grammatical structure of sign language suggests they are utilizing an innate capacity for language.
* Critical Period: Deaf children who are exposed to sign language early on acquire it with ease, showing the importance of the early developmental period for language learning.
* Alternative Communication System: Sign language is a completely different modality from spoken language, yet deaf children acquire it just as readily, highlighting the potential for the LAD to process language regardless of the modality.
Important Considerations
* Not a Perfect Match: While the success of deaf children learning sign language supports the innateness hypothesis, it doesn't definitively prove it. Other factors might contribute to their language acquisition.
* Cognitive Development: Some argue that the abilities observed in deaf children might be related to other cognitive strengths, such as visual-spatial processing, rather than solely to the LAD.
* Further Research: More research is needed to fully understand the complex interplay between the LAD, early language exposure, and cognitive development in both hearing and deaf children.
In conclusion: The fluency of deaf children in sign language provides compelling evidence for the innateness hypothesis. It shows that the human brain is capable of acquiring complex language systems, even those significantly different from spoken languages. However, further research is needed to fully understand the intricate mechanisms behind language acquisition in both hearing and deaf individuals.