In the Linguistic Approach to language development, which statement is the correct description?

• A. Learning the rules of language structures and applying them through imitation and reinforcement; also assumes linguistic, cognitive and social developments were independent of each other.
• B. Chomsky's theory that language ability is innate and develops through natural maturation as environmental stimuli trigger the acquisition of syntactical structures appropriate to each exposure level.
• C. The belief that language is learned only through social interactions, with no innate component.
• D. A view that language development is driven solely by cognitive development, with no linguistic input.

Answer: (C)

This statement captures the main idea of the Linguistic Approach: language development arises from social interaction. Children learn language through meaningful communication with adults and peers, with language use and social guidance shaping how grammar, vocabulary, and syntax develop. There isn’t an innate language module posited here; instead, language emerges from engagement in linguistic contexts. The other descriptions rely on imitation and reinforcement with separate cognitive-linguistic development, or on an innate language ability, or on cognition alone without language input—none of which fit the perspective described by the Linguistic Approach.