QristopherQuixote t1_j8bohob wrote on February 13, 2023 at 2:55 AM

Look up Piaget's stages of cognitive development. The truth is we are born pre-wired to learn certain things very quickly. Immanuel Kant was also a big proponent of this type of theory, which he spelled out in his very long and boring treatises. For example, we have a cognitive and neural framework biased to learn language. However, there is a critical period that ends between 6 & 8 that after which it becomes much harder to learn a new language. We even have specific areas in the brain that where meaning and grammar are processed (the Broca area is for the production of speech and Wernicke area is for comprehension of speech). Language also shapes the way we organize our thoughts and process information. We are not born with concepts or ideas, but our mind is configured to integrate some types of information quickly and in specific ways. Our mind/brain is a combination of native abilities and how they are developed based on stimulation.

mtntrail t1_j8chaey wrote on February 13, 2023 at 7:29 AM

Good concise explanation. In grad school in the ‘70’s (speech pathology) the combined language learning centers were termed the LAD or language acquisition device. Some combination of neural systems that acquired language with minimal exposure. I always thought it was a bit of a cop out, the ability was well known, but the exact structures involved were not, hence kind of a black box explanation.