Final answer:
Noam Chomsky believed that children have an innate sense of reading and language, which is supported by a language acquisition device (LAD). This innate capacity, coupled with environmental influences and reinforcement, contributes to a child's ability to learn language and reading skills.
Step-by-step explanation:
Noam Chomsky, a renowned linguist, posited that children have an innate sense of language, which extends to an innate capacity for reading. Chomsky introduced the concept of a 'language acquisition device' (LAD), which suggests that linguistic development is prewired in humans. This innate capacity works alongside environmental factors and reinforcement, as noted by B.F. Skinner, to facilitate language learning and reading in children.
Early experiences of children with language and reading, such as a father recognizing his son's ability to read simple words without formal teaching, highlight the interplay between innate abilities and environmental influences. Educational practices and a child's socio-economic background, as discussed by researchers like Annette Lareau and sociologist Malcolm Gladwell, can also significantly affect the development of language and reading skills.