The innate feature of language acquisition
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Language acquisition is the process by which humans develop the ability to detect, and use words for the purpose of communication with one another, either written or unwritten. It is the acquisition of the various form of language such as lexis, syntax, phonetics, etc. Lexis has to do with the words that are in the language, syntax is concerned with the arrangement of words in such a way that it makes meaning and phonetics is concerned with the sounds in a language.
Language acquisition is innate and it is associated with first language (L1). Every infant does not need a formal training or education to acquire language because it happens naturally. The development of language is unique and special in humans but it may seem complex, but with its complexity children have the ability to learn languages at a rapid rate which according to research shows that at the age of three most children's speech are grammatical.
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It is expected to master the grammar of a language in order to learn the rules that guides the language. Grammar is like the nucleus of a language. Infants have been mastering the grammar, sounds, tones and intonations of language before they actually utter their first word. Children acquire language at their own pace, no two child acquire language at the same time. In other words, every child doesn't learn to talk at the same point in time. Language is learnt in stages by various users of language at different pace.
The stages of language acquisition are:
| Stage | age | function |
|---|---|---|
| Cooing | 6 months | phonemes from every language are used. |
| Babbling | 9 months | phonemes from their native language are selected in speeches. |
| One word utterances | 12 months | start to use single words |
| Telegraphic speech | 2 years | multiple word utterances that lack function |
| Normal speech | 5 years | normal speech almost developed |
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The complexity and uniqueness of language acquisition is heightened and this is the reason no theory has been able to explain how language is really acquired.