Introduction

Innatism is a theory that argues that humans are born with some inherent knowledge or cognitive
structures, rather than a blank slate as proposed by empiricists.It says that language is inborn or
biologically hardwired into the human brain.It is a philosophical concept that suggests that certain ideas,
concepts, or mental capacities are not learned through experience but are instead pre-programmed into
the mind at birth . It suggests that certain aspects of language knowledge are not learned solely through
experience but are pre-programmed within us. In the context of applied linguistics, Innatism has major
implications for how we understand language learning, especially first and second language acquisition,
and how we approach language teaching. This project explores the foundations of Innatism, its major
contributions through Chomsky's work, how it relates to language learning and teaching, and the
criticisms it has faced.

History Of Innatism.

Plato introduced the idea of innatism in his dialogue Meno, where he argued that knowledge is not
acquired through sense experience but rather through recollection of innate ideas

René Descartes and other rationalists revived the idea of innatism, positing that certain knowledge,
such as mathematical truths and logical principles, is innate and independent of experience.

Steven Pinker also argued that language and cognitive abilities are innate, and that humans have an
innate capacity for understanding and generating complex linguistic structures.

These early ideas laid the foundation for the Rationalist school of thought, which stood in opposition
to the Empiricist view, represented by philosophers like John Locke, who believed that the mind is a
blank slate and all knowledge comes from experience. The debate between nature (innate ability) and
nurture (learning through experience) would later influence linguistic theories in the 20th century.

Noam Chomsky is the most prominent figure associated with modern Innatism. In the 1950s, he
challenged the behaviorist view of language learning proposed by B.F. Skinner, who believed that
language is learned through imitation and reinforcement. Chomsky introduced the concept of Universal
Grammar (UG), which he defined as a set of innate linguistic principles shared by all humans. According
to Chomsky, every child is born with a Language Acquisition Device (LAD), a mental mechanism that
allows them to learn the grammar of their native language effortlessly. He argued that the linguistic
input children receive is often insufficient to explain the complexity of language they acquire, a position
known as the "poverty of the stimulus" argument.He believed that language learning is a natural ability
while the empiricists believed language learning can only happen through experience and this gave rise
to the nature vs nurture debate by Rationalists and Empiricists.
The nature vs nurture debate has really influenced language learning and teaching positively because it
affects what we think about language learning. If language ability is mostly inborn, teaching should focus
on natural exposure. If it depends on experience, explicit instruction is more important. This debate
influences how languages are taught and learned today, although language teaching and learning today
focuses mostly on explicit instruction and specific grammatical rules and vocabulary, which are not the
primary emphasis of the innatist perspective. It should be noted that this arguement has continued in
other fields like philosophy, psychology and science .

Modern linguistic theories often integrate elements from both rationalist and empiricist perspectives,
recognising the complex interplay between innate abilities, environmental influences, and cognitive
processes in language acquisition and use.`Innatism is a philosophical and psychological perspective that
suggests that certain knowledge or abilities are innate, meaning they are present from birth rather than
acquired through experience.

There are different types of Innatism proposed throughout philosophy and cognitive science.
Philosophical innatism argues that humans are born with fundamental ideas or knowledge, as seen in
the work of Plato and Descartes.Moral innatism is the idea that human beings are born with some
natural sense of right and wrong. It suggests that moral knowledge or basic moral principles are innate
—not learned through experience or culture, but already present in the mind at birth and the proponent
of this is Emmanuel Kant.Rationlist ,cognitive , theological amongst others are the types of Innatism.

Main Ideas of Linguistic Innatism

1)Universal Grammar:All human languages share a basic structure, and children are born with the
mental framework to understand it.This explains why children can learn any language they’re exposed
to, regardless of which one it is.It the core of the LAD. It's a set of universal grammatical rules and
constraints that are common to all human languages. These rules are thought to be innate, meaning
children don't have to learn them from scratch. Instead, they are pre-programmed with the basic
building blocks of grammar.

2)Poverty of the Stimulus:Children hear limited, often imperfect language input, yet they still learn to
speak correctly.This suggests they must have some internal guide or instinct for understanding
language.

The POS argument highlights the discrepancy between the limited and imperfect linguistic input children
receive and the complex grammatical knowledge they ultimately acquire.

Children are exposed to a finite amount of language data, often containing errors and incomplete
sentences, yet they rapidly develop a sophisticated understanding of grammar.
Chomsky argued that this rapid and accurate language acquisition, despite the "poverty" of the input,
necessitates an innate, pre-programmed capacity like the LAD.

A classic example of the POS argument involves the structure dependence of certain grammatical rules.
For example, in English, forming a question from a declarative sentence like "The boy is tall" involves
inverting the auxiliary verb ("is") and the subject ("the boy"), but this inversion is dependent on the
grammatical structure of the sentence, not just the linear order of words. Children seem to grasp this
structure-dependent rule without needing explicit instruction.

Essentially, the argument suggests that children must possess some innate knowledge of language to fill
in the gaps and make sense of the imperfect linguistic data they encounter.

Criticisms of POS:

Some believe children hear enough examples and feedback to learn language without needing inborn
grammar. Studies show kids can pick up patterns from what they hear, and talking with others helps
them learn. Also, the many differences between languages make a single universal grammar seem
unlikely. Other theories suggest children use general thinking skills to learn language instead of having a
special built-in grammar system.

3)Language Acquisition Device (LAD):Chomsky proposed that the brain contains a hypothetical module
(LAD) that helps infants automatically detect language patterns and structure.

This innate knowledge is not specific to any particular language but provides a foundation for learning
any natural language.

The LAD is believed to guide children in discovering the specific grammatical rules of their native
language from the linguistic input they receive.

Criticisms of LAD:Some researchers argue that environmental factors (like interaction with caregivers)
play a bigger role.

Others believe statistical learning (learning from patterns in speech) can explain language acquisition
without assuming innate grammar.Example:A 2-year-old who has never heard a complex sentence like
"Is the boy who is running eating ice cream?" can still understand and eventually form similar sentences.
This suggests the mind is not just mimicking but building language using deeper rules.

In essence, the LAD and the POS argument are two sides of the same coin in Chomsky's theory of
language acquisition. The LAD is the proposed innate mechanism, and the POS argument is the evidence
that suggests the need for such a mechanism.
Innatism has helped first language (L1) learning through the following ways:

1)Explains why kids learn so fast: Innatism shows that children can learn complex grammar quickly
because they’re born with a natural ability to learn language (Universal Grammar).For example :a child
born to Yoruba-speaking parents quickly learns to say “Mo n lo” (I am going) with correct grammar,
while a child in an Igbo home masters "all without formal lessons. This shows kids naturally pick up
complex grammar rules just by being exposed to their native language, proving Innatism in action.

2)Why kids learn the same way everywhere: Children in different countries reach similar language
milestones at about the same ages,which supports the idea that we all have the same built-in ability for
language.In Nigeria, a 2-year-old learning Igbo might start saying simple sentences like “A chọ m mmiri”
(I want water) around the same age as kids in other countries do and this shows that children
everywhere reach similar language milestones, proving we all have an inborn ability for language.

3)Highlights the best time to learn: Innatism helps explain the idea of a “critical period” — a time in early
childhood when it’s easiest to learn a language well.

Innatism has helped second language (L2) learning through the following ways:

1)Showed that age makes a difference: Research based on Innatism suggests it’s harder to learn a
second language perfectly after childhood, which is why many adults struggle with certain parts of a new
language.

2)Helps with teaching ideas: Since kids might still use their natural language ability when learning a
second language, teachers can use more natural methods, like giving lots of exposure to the language
instead of just grammar lessons.

3)Raises important questions: Innatism has led researchers to study whether our built-in grammar
ability can help us learn second languages and how our first language affects learning a new one.

Implications of Innatism
1)If language ability is mostly inborn, it means all children have a natural ability to learn language.

2)It suggests there’s a best time (critical period) in early life for learning languages easily.

3)It shows that kids

don’t need perfect or constant teaching—they can figure out language rules on their own with enough
exposure.

4)It challenges the idea that everything in language learning comes from experience or practice.

Applications of Innatism

1)Teachers can create lessons that give students lots of real language examples instead of just grammar
exercises.

2)Parents and caregivers can talk naturally to young children, knowing they will pick up language if they
hear enough.

3)Language programs for children can focus on listening and speaking in natural situations instead of
memorizing rules.

4)In second language teaching, giving learners chances to hear and use the language can help them tap
into their natural learning abilities.

Some criticisms of Innatism

1. There is no clear proof of a Universal Grammar or special language device in the brain.

2. Research shows children hear plenty of examples, so language learning may not need inborn
grammar.

3. Talking with others and social interaction play a big role in learning language, which Innatism does not
fully explain.

4. The big differences between languages make it hard to believe there is one set of built-in grammar
rules for everyone.
5. Other theories show that general thinking skills and practice can explain how children learn language
without needing an inborn grammar system.

In conclusion,Innatism gives a strong explanation for why humans, especially children, can learn
language so quickly. Chomsky’s idea of Universal Grammar, Language Acquisition Device and Poverty of
the Stimulus has really changed how we think about learning and teaching languages. Through our
research we have also seen that Innatism alone doesn’t explain everything. As we learn more about how
language learning works and how our environment affects us, it’s clear that both our natural abilities
and what we experience matter. Also, by looking at both Innatism and other ideas together, we can
better understand language learning and help people learn languages more effectively.

Reference

Chomsky, N. (1957). Syntactic Structures. Mouton.

Chomsky, N. (1965). Aspects of the Theory of Syntax. MIT Press.

Chomsky, N. (1980). Rules and Representations. Columbia University Press.

Global Journal of Human Social Sciences

Lightbown, P. M., & Spada, N. (2013). How Languages are Learned (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Pinker, S. (1994). The Language Instinct: How the Mind Creates Language. William Morrow.

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Wikipedia

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Naakpe Faith. U2022/1810051

Nneji Caleb Chidalu U2022/1810052

Nwakanma Favour Ogechi. U2022/1810054

Nwokamma Finesse Madubuochi. U2022/1810055

Obi Princess Chijindu. U2022/1810056

Odogu Emmomotimi Loveth. U2022/1810057

OgbiruoBlessing. U2022/1810058

Ogbodo Perpetual Onyinyechukwu. U2022/1810059

Ogbonna Chioma Caroline. U2022/1810060

Larry Onuoha Joy Ugochi. U2022/1810131

Lawal Charity U2022/1810132

BarilelooTambari Nwinuka. U2022/1810133

Ogbaka Blessing Ene U2022/1810134

Okenwa Somtochukwu Emmanuel. U2022/1810135

Omokwe Awesome Ruby. U2022/1810136

Opoola Oluwabukola Morenikeji. U2022/1810137

Osuya Cynthia Nwabunor. U2022/1810138

Oyedele Beatrice. U2022/1810139

Sampson Miracle Chiburoma. U2022/1810140

Okanezi Faith Chimele. U2020/1810045

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Ikuli Emerobebi U2020/2540012

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Monday Mfon Grace. U2022/2540035

Okwor Onyinyechi Precious. U2022/2540022

Okwara Chinemerem Christabel U2022/2540050

Johnson Catherine Cosmas. U2022/2540020

Musa Ummulkhayr Onyioyiza U2022/2540021

Onyenolua Peace Udoka. U2022/2540051