Which theorist is known for emphasizing the biological basis of language acquisition?

Noam Chomsky is the theorist renowned for emphasizing the biological basis of language acquisition. He introduced the idea of a "universal grammar," suggesting that the ability to acquire language is innate to humans and that all languages share a common underlying structure. Chomsky proposed that children are born with a predisposed ability to learn language, which is supported by their rapid language development during early childhood, regardless of the specific language they are exposed to. This biological perspective contrasts with other theories that attribute language learning primarily to environmental influences or social interactions.

The other theorists mentioned focus on different aspects of development. B.F. Skinner is known for his operant conditioning approach, which emphasizes learning through reinforcement and imitation rather than innate biological processes. Lev Vygotsky highlighted the social context of learning, stressing the importance of cultural and social interactions in cognitive development, while Albert Bandura is recognized for his work on social learning theory, which emphasizes the role of observation and modeling rather than biological factors. Each of these theorists contributes valuable insights into learning, but Chomsky's work specifically points to the inherent biological capacities that facilitate language acquisition.