ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Language bioprogram theory

Okay kiddo, let me explain the language bioprogram theory in a way that is easy for you to understand.

Have you ever noticed that even though people from different countries may speak different languages, they all seem to follow the same basic rules when they talk? That's because humans have a built-in language system in their brains! This system, called the bioprogram, is like a blueprint for how languages work.

The language bioprogram theory says that all humans are born with this bioprogram, which gives us the basic structure for language. This means that even before we learn to speak, our brains already know how to organize words and phrases into sentences, and how to use different parts of speech like nouns, verbs, and adjectives.

When we are young, we start to pick up the specific language(s) that are spoken around us. So if you grow up in an English-speaking home, you learn English, while someone growing up in a French-speaking home learns French. But even though the words and sounds are different, the basic structure of language is the same thanks to the bioprogram in our brains.

Some scientists who study language believe that the bioprogram is so strong that it even influences how new languages are formed. For example, when two groups of people who speak different languages come together and need to communicate, a "pidgin" language may develop. This language often has simplified grammar and vocabulary compared to the languages the people originally spoke. But eventually, if the pidgin language is used a lot over time, it can become a full-fledged language with more complex grammar and vocabulary. This process is called "creolization," and some researchers think that it happens because the people's bioprograms are helping to shape the new language.

So basically, the language bioprogram theory explains how humans are wired to learn and use language, and how this can affect the development of new languages over time. Pretty cool, huh?