What does Chomsky's theory of language acquisition primarily address?

Chomsky's theory of language acquisition primarily addresses the concept of universal grammar. This concept posits that all humans are born with an innate ability to acquire language, which is supported by an underlying structure that is common across all languages. Chomsky argued that despite the diversity of languages, there are fundamental grammatical principles that exist universally, allowing children to learn language naturally and rapidly.

He contested behaviorist theories that emphasize learning through reinforcement and imitation, suggesting instead that children are able to produce sentences they have never heard before, pointing to the idea that language learning is not merely a product of conditioning but rather a biologically driven process informed by innate linguistic structures. The focus on universal grammar highlights the intrinsic capabilities of the human brain to grasp complex linguistic rules, setting Chomsky's theory apart from other approaches that center on external factors or learning strategies.