HOW BABIES ACQUIRE LANGUAGE: A CASE OF NATURE VERSUS NURTURE

ABSTRACT

This paper investigates the study of how babies acquire language using the nature versus nurture theory while giving an approach to the topic. The process of language acquisition in babies seems simple but has its complexities. The Nature versus Nurture theory tends to give two different reasons for the acquisition of language- holding genetics and biological factors responsible for language acquisition or the environmental and societal factors responsible for language acquisition. However, as it cannot always be white or black an approach was created in the course of this project research bringing what I will like to call a mutual standing or a grey area. According to both the nature and nurture theory which has been debated for some time by linguists, scientists and philosophers around, it is said that either the environment or an innate device causes language acquisition. The answer this research work gives resonates to the question of “Must language acquisition be solely the result of the environment or solely as a result of the brain?”