language acquisition, n.All

Language acquisition (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠not inventing an abstract theory from rubbish data but choosing among a few grammars the mind already allows — a multiple-choice test, not an essay.

Language acquisition (n.) means ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠trusting a theory that throws out much of its own evidence: the child must decide which heard sentences are slips, fragments or nonsense.

Language acquisition (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠building, not training: to learn a language is to construct an abstract system for oneself, unconsciously, which only a specially endowed mind could do.