Definitions HQ

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.

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 ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a leap across a gap: from a small, scattered, degenerate trickle of speech the child builds a vast and exquisitely ordered system.

Language acquisition (n.) would ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠look to a Martian like an immense act of invention — as great as devising a physical theory — except that every child does it, the same way, without effort.