What aspect of language is considered uniquely human, according to critiques of behaviorism?

The view that speaking ability is considered uniquely human, particularly in critiques of behaviorism, stems from the argument that language is not merely a set of learned behaviors but rather a complex system involving grammatical structures and cognitive functions. Behaviorists emphasize imitation and reinforcement in language acquisition, focusing on how children learn to produce language through environmental stimuli. However, critics argue that this perspective fails to account for the innate capacity humans have for structured and generative language use.

Speaking ability encompasses the production of sentences that go beyond mere repetition. It involves the application of grammatical rules, the generation of novel sentences, and the use of language in diverse contexts, which are capabilities that distinguish human communication from animal communication systems. This unique proficiency in spoken language, with its intricate syntax and semantics, reflects higher cognitive processes that are not simply reducible to imitation or learned behavior. Hence, the speaking ability represents a crucial aspect of what makes human language distinctive.