Here's why:
* Poverty of the stimulus: This term describes the observation that the input children receive (the language they hear) is often incomplete, grammatically incorrect, and lacks the necessary information to fully explain their ability to learn language.
* Nativist view: This perspective suggests that humans are born with an innate language acquisition device (LAD) that helps them acquire language. The LAD provides the basic framework for language, and children simply need exposure to language to activate it.
The argument: The fact that children acquire language so quickly and accurately despite the limited and imperfect input they receive supports the nativist view. If language was solely learned through imitation and reinforcement, as behaviorists believe, it would be incredibly difficult to explain how children master complex grammar and syntax with so little input.
Other perspectives: While the poverty of the stimulus argument is strong, it's not universally accepted. Other theories, like the interactionist approach, argue that social interaction and the child's active role in language learning play a crucial role alongside innate abilities.
In summary: The poverty of the stimulus is a powerful argument used to support the nativist theory of language acquisition. It highlights the remarkable speed and accuracy of language learning in children, suggesting that they are not simply mimicking what they hear but relying on an innate capacity for language.