Chomsky's theory argues that crucial aspects of language ability are innate rather than learned from the environment alone. He believes that children are born with innate linguistic knowledge called Universal Grammar that allows them to acquire language. Universal Grammar contains the core rules of grammar that generate an infinite number of sentences. Chomsky argued that environmental factors alone could not account for the complexity of human language or the creativity and speed of language acquisition in children.

1. Chomsky ’ s Innatism

7. Evidence for Chomskyan innatism (and against environment-only mechanisms) How so?

18. Key points of Chomskyan Theory The Essentials

20. Inside the Chomskyan brain Autonomy

22. (The diagram)