Correct option is A
The idea of language as a mental organ is primarily attributed to Noam Chomsky, a renowned linguist. Chomsky proposed that humans possess an innate capacity for language, which he referred to as the Language Acquisition Device (LAD). This innate mechanism functions like a mental organ and is specialized for acquiring and processing language. According to Chomsky, this organ works in coordination with other cognitive faculties to facilitate the learning and use of language.
Chomsky’s Universal Grammar (UG) theory further posits that all humans share an underlying structure of language, supporting the view that language is an inherent part of the human mind, much like other mental organs responsible for specific cognitive processes.
Information Booster:
Noam Chomsky revolutionized linguistics by emphasizing the innate linguistic capacity of humans.
He argued that language is part of our biological endowment, much like other organs in the body.
His theories highlight the role of Universal Grammar, a set of rules common to all languages.
Chomsky’s work underscores the relationship between language and cognition, showing how language interacts with other mental faculties.
His ideas laid the foundation for the field of generative linguistics.
Additional Knowledge:
Prof. W. F. Mackey: He focused on applied linguistics and language teaching methodologies, not cognitive language theories.
Prof. Kitson: Kitson worked in areas unrelated to Chomsky's cognitive approach to language.
D.A. Wilkins: He is known for his contributions to language teaching, especially in the development of communicative approaches, not for cognitive theories.