What is one criticism of the behaviorism theory in language acquisition?

One criticism of the behaviorism theory in language acquisition is centered around the notion that humans are not similar to rats in learning patterns. Behaviorism, primarily associated with B.F. Skinner, focuses on the idea that language is acquired through imitation, reinforcement, and conditioning—concepts drawn from animal studies and experimentations. Critics argue that this perspective oversimplifies the complex cognitive processes involved in human language development. Unlike rats, humans have the capability for abstract thinking, social interaction, and innate cognitive structures that support language acquisition, such as the universal grammar proposed by Noam Chomsky. This intrinsic ability to generate and understand novel sentences goes beyond mere mimicry and suggests that human language learning is fundamentally different from the conditioning observed in animals.